Career
Born in 1834 in Bangor, Maine, Taylor was still living in that city when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a coxswain on the United States Ship Metacomet. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he "encouraged the men of the forward pivot gun when the officer in command displayed cowardice".
Served on board the United States.S. Metacomet during the action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the rebel ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864.
Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Taylor encouraged the men of the forward pivot gun when the officer in command displayed cowardice, doing honor to the occasion.