646 WILLIAM BOWER TAYLOR. 



legislature. Having removed to bis farm near Millville, N. J., for the 

 benefit of bis health, he was in 1843 elected to the legislature of that 

 State. 



William's mother died while he was quite young. His father pro- 

 vided him with a liberal education, sending him to a Baptist college at 

 Haddington, Pa., then to an academy taught by Prof. Walter E. John- 

 sou, and subsequently to the University of Pennsylvania. Professor 

 Johnson, one of the most learned men of that time, was secretary of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences, member of the National Institute, 

 professor of physics and chemistry in the University of P en n sylvan ia, 

 and an able writer on scientific and technological subjects. 



In 1835-36 several gentlemen formed a society with the name of The 

 Franklin Kite Club, for the purpose of making electrical experiments. 

 For a considerable time they met once a week at the Philadelphia City 

 Hospital grounds and flew their kites. These were generally square in 

 shape, made of muslin or silk, stretched over a framework of caue 

 reeds, varying in size from 6 feet upward, some being 20 feet square. 

 For flying the kites annealed copper wire was used, wound upon a 

 heavy reel 2 or 3 feet in diameter, insulated by being placed on glass 

 supports. When one kite was up, sometimes a number of others 

 would be sent up on the same string. The reel being inside the fence, 

 the wire from the kite sometimes crossed the road. Upon one occasion, 

 as a cartman passed, gazing at the kites, he stopped directly under the 

 wire and was told to catch hold of it and see how hard it pulled. In 

 order to reach it he stood up on his cart, putting one foot on the horse's 

 back. When he touched the wire the shock went through him, as also 

 the horse, causing the latter to jump and the man to turn a somersault, 

 much to the amusement of the lookers on, among whom was Taylor. 



It was this incident and others of a similar character connected with 

 the kite club that turned his youthful mind to science, and especially 

 to electrical phenomena. He made a number of kites himself and also 

 endeavored to make a flying machine. He made a clock wholly of wood, 

 which kept good time. 



In 1836 Taylor entered the University of Pennsylvania, became a 

 member of the Philomathean Society, and later its moderator or 

 president. He was graduated in 1840 and commenced the study of 

 law at the university and also in the office of Mr. Rawle, an eminent 

 attorney. He was admitted to the bar of Philadelphia November 15, 

 1843. 



His retiring disposition, studious habits, stern integrity, and high 

 sense of honor were not conducive to securing many clients, and he 

 looked with aversion on the practices of attorneys who were willing 

 to sacrifice truth to gain an unrighteous cause. After four years' 

 experience of an unsatisfactory character as a lawyer, in November, 

 1848, he became an assistant in the drug store of his brother Alfred, 

 on Chestnut street near Ninth, and remained there until February 1, 

 1853. 



