John Taylor

Background

John I Taylor was the eldest son and heir of Jonathan Taylor (d1733) of Bordesley by his wife Rebecca Kettle.

Career

He served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1756–7. Taylor became a cabinet maker in Birmingham. There he set up a factory in what is now Union Street to manufacturer "Brummagem toys", such as buttons, buckles, snuff boxes and jewellery boxes.

He eventually employed 500 people and became one of Birmingham's leading industrialists. Taylor invested the profits of his business in local land and property, buying Sheldon Hall in 1752 and Moseley Hall and the manor of Yardley in 1768, and eventually owned about 2,000 acres. His 1788 portrait by Thomas Gainsborough is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

He died in 1775 and was buried in a vault in St Philip's Parish Church, Birmingham, built in 1711 on land donated in 1710 by Robert Philip. James Watt commented that at his death Taylor was worth some £200,000. Both Bordesley Hall and Moseley Hall were later burnt down by mobs during the Priestley riots of 1791 but were subsequently rebuilt.

Works

• Other Work

  • The output of buttons from his works was estimated at £800 per week.

Connections

Partner:

Sampson Lloyd