John Louis Taylor

Background

He was born in London, England, of Irish parentage. At the age of twelve he came to America, an orphan, with his elder brother James.

Education

By assistance of his elder brother James he was able to pursue classical studies at William and Mary College. Compelled to leave college before graduation, he went to North Carolina, studied law, was licensed to practise in 1788.

Career

He settled at Fayetteville. His handsome physique, native talent, genial nature, ingenuity in argument, power of oratory, and Federalism in politics, quickly brought him legal, social, and political distinction.

As borough representative of Fayetteville in the House of Commons (1792, 1794 - 95), he supported measures to encourage trade, prohibit the importation of slaves, permit manumission, and improve the administration of justice. He was a presidential elector in 1792 and an unsuccessful candidate before the General Assembly for solicitor general in 1790 and for attorney general in 1795.

In 1798 he was elected by the General Assembly as a judge of the superior court and began a distinguished judicial career of thirty years. In the absence of a state court of appeals, the superior court judges were required from 1799 to meet twice each year in Raleigh as a court, called the court of conference from 1801 and the supreme court from 1805, for the determination of questions of law and equity arising on the circuits. In pursuance of a law of 1810, the judges selected Taylor in July 1811 as presiding officer with the title of chief justice. From about this time he resided in Raleigh. In 1818 the General Assembly established a distinct supreme court and chose Taylor one of the three judges. At the first term of this court, in January 1819, his associates elected him chief justice - a position which he held until his death in 1829.

Early in his career he began to make notes on cases which came before him and in 1802 issued Cases Determined in the Superior Courts , reprinted in the first volume of North Carolina Reports. He subsequently published Carolina Law Repository (2 vols. , 1814 - 16), and Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Court of North Carolina from July Term 1816, to January Term, 1818, Inclusive (1818), known as "North Carolina Term Reports, " both reprinted in part in 4 North Carolina Reports. Under legislative appointment of 1817 to revise the statute law, Taylor, Henry Potter, and Bartlett Yancey issued Laws of the State of North Carolina (2 vols. , 1821), known as "Potter's Revisal"; Taylor continued the work through 1825 in A Revisal of the Laws (1827), known as "Taylor's Revisal. " He also published A Charge Delivered to the Grand Jury of Edgecombe Superior Court (1817) and A Digest of the Statute Law of North Carolina Relative to Wills, Executors and Administrators, the Provision for Widows, and the Distribution of Intestates Estates (1824).

His death occurred at his home in Raleigh.

Achievements

• As the first chief justice, Taylor brought learning, respectability, and prestige to the supreme court. "Preëminently a safe judge" who followed precedent with religious zeal, he made no distinctive contributions to jurisprudence; but broad information, exemplary patience, unfailing courtesy, high feelings, good judgment, and love of justice won esteem for him and respect for the law. His opinions, as found in 1-12 North Carolina Reports are marked in many instances by thoroughness of legal investigation and clarity of composition. Elmwood, his home at Raleigh, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Membership

Taylor was a prominent Freemason and served as Grand Senior Warden of North Carolina, while William R. Davie was Grand Master, and he himself served as Grand Master from 1802–1804 and from 1814-1816. He was a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M. , Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Connections

His first wife was Julia Rowan, by whom he had a daughter. About 1797 he moved to New Bern and in that year married Jane, the sister of William Gaston, by whom he had a son and a daughter.

Spouse:

Julia Rowan

Spouse:

Jane

Brother:

James