Thomas Edward Taylor
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward Taylor PC (17 March 1811 – 3 February 1883), was a British
Conservative Party
politician. He served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
in 1868 and between 1874 and 1880 under Benjamin Disraeli.
in 1800). His mother was Marianne St Leger, daughter of Hon. Richard St Leger. He was educated at Eton
.
in 1831 and Captain
in 1838, but retired from the army in 1846.
One of his two brothers, General Sir Richard Taylor
(1819–1904) enjoyed a distinguished career in the British Army.
for Dublin County
, a seat he would hold for the rest of his life. He was an opposition whip
from 1855 to 1858, and then served as a Lord of the Treasury
(government whip) from 1858 to 1859 in the second administration of the Earl of Derby
. When the Conservatives
returned to power in 1866, Derby appointed Taylor Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
, a post he held until 1868, the last year under the premiership of Benjamin Disraeli. He then served briefly under Disraeli as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
from November to December 1868. The latter year he was also admitted to the Privy Council.
In the 1874 general election
Taylor decisively defeated Charles Stewart Parnell
, and was once again appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
by Disraeli, which he remained until the Conservatives
fell from power in 1880.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
in 1868 and between 1874 and 1880 under Benjamin Disraeli.
Background and education
Taylor was the eldest son of Reverend Edward Taylor, fourth son of Thomas Taylor, 1st Earl of Bective (whose eldest son was created Marquess of HeadfortMarquess of Headfort
Marquess of Headfort is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for Thomas Taylor, 2nd Earl of Bective. Despite the official title, the family unfailingly use the alternative rendering Marquis of Headfort, and this is the spelling more commonly encountered in references to family...
in 1800). His mother was Marianne St Leger, daughter of Hon. Richard St Leger. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
Military career
Taylor was commissioned into the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1829. He was promoted LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1831 and Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in 1838, but retired from the army in 1846.
One of his two brothers, General Sir Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor (British Army officer)
General Sir Richard Chambré Hayes Taylor GCB was a British Army officer who served in the Second Anglo-Burmese War, the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny...
(1819–1904) enjoyed a distinguished career in the British Army.
Political career
In 1841 Taylor was elected Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Dublin County
Dublin County (UK Parliament constituency)
Dublin County was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, a seat he would hold for the rest of his life. He was an opposition whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1855 to 1858, and then served as a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
(government whip) from 1858 to 1859 in the second administration of the Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, KG, PC was an English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to date the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party. He was known before 1834 as Edward Stanley, and from 1834 to 1851 as Lord Stanley...
. When the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
returned to power in 1866, Derby appointed Taylor Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury is a junior ministerial position in the British Government. The holder is usually the Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons. However, the office is no longer attached to the Treasury...
, a post he held until 1868, the last year under the premiership of Benjamin Disraeli. He then served briefly under Disraeli as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
from November to December 1868. The latter year he was also admitted to the Privy Council.
In the 1874 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1874
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
Taylor decisively defeated Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
, and was once again appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
by Disraeli, which he remained until the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
fell from power in 1880.