Stevenson Taylor

Background

He was born in West Houston Street, New York City, in February 12, 1926. He was the son of Hugh and Alice (MacWhinney) Taylor.

Education

He attended public elementary schools and the New York Free Academy, now the College of the City of New York, and as an apprentice entered the employ of Fletcher, Harrison & Company, proprietors of the North River Iron Works, in 1864.

Career

After the usual training in shops and drawing room with outside work in the installation of machinery, he became chief draftsman for the firm about the time he reached his majority and continued in charge of the drawing room and work of design until 1883, when the concern became a corporation under the style of W. & A. Fletcher Company and Taylor was made vicepresident. Henceforth he was the active head of the business until 1904, when he disposed of his interest and resigned. During this period he was responsible for designing the machinery for such notable side-wheel steamboats as the Pilgrim (1883) of the Fall River Line, the first iron steamboat built on Long Island Sound, and her sister ship, the Puritan.

In 1904 he was appointed receiver of the United States Shipbuilding Company, and in the same year became vice-president of the Quintard Iron Works. It was while holding this office that he made the designs and took the contract for the steamer Commonwealth, for the Fall River Line, which when put into service was the "largest and most magnificent steamship built for service on inland waters".

In 1916, having severed his connection with the Quintard works the year before, he was chosen president of the American Bureau of Shipping for the inspection and registration of hulls and machinery of ships. Under his wise and capable management the standing of the American bureau was raised until it became the equal of any of the registration societies. After ten years of service here, having attained his seventy-eighth year, he wished to retire, but was persuaded to continue his connection, with the title of chairman. This relation lasted the few remaining months of his life.

During the World War he was appointed, April 2, 1917, a lieutenant commander in the United States Naval Reserve Force (later promoted commander) and rendered valuable service as a member of the board charged with the rehabilitation of seized German vessels and subsequently as a member of the board of appraisal of vessels commandeered by the government. For this latter work he was specially fitted by his judicial temperament as well as by his long experience.

During nearly forty years he gave much time and effort to the management of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, founded by William H. Webb as a school of collegiate grade for the gratuitous instruction of young men as naval architects and marine engineers, and also as a home for aged mechanics in the trades of shipbuilding and marine engineering and their wives or widows. Taylor was one of the original trustees, and upon Webb's death in 1899 succeeded him as president. He undertook the task as a labor of love, with no compensation of a financial character, and it was probably that part of his life work in which he took the most satisfaction.

Achievements

• He was always one of the most popular men in any organization, had remarkable skill in composing differences, and was an ideal presiding officer.

Membership

Taylor was a very active member of a number of engineering associations. He was a charter member, one of the few honorary members, and twice president (1910-12, 1916 - 18) of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and for many years was a trustee, and for three years (1913 - 15) president, of the Engineers Club of New York.

Personality

Taylor was of medium height and build, with hair snow white from an early age and a rosy complexion.

Connections

On September 10, 1874, he married Alma L. Partridge, who died in 1918.

Father:

Hugh Taylor

Mother:

Alice (MacWhinney) Taylor

Spouse:

Alma L. Partridge