Henry Taylor (dramatist)

Sir Henry Taylor KCMG
Sir Henry Taylor, by W.J. Hawker.
Born	(1800-10-18)18 October 1800 Bishop Middleham
Died	27 March 1886(1886-03-27) (aged 85)
Occupation	Dramatist and poet
Language	English
Nationality	British
Spouse	Hon. Theodosia Alice Spring Rice
Children	Five, including Ida Alice Ashworth Taylor
Relatives	George Taylor (father) Eleanor Ashworth (mother)

Sir Henry Taylor KCMG (18 October 1800 – 27 March 1886) was an English dramatist and poet, official, and well-connected man of letters.

Taylor was born on 18 October 1800 in Bishop Middleham, the third son of George Taylor and Eleanor Ashworth. His mother died when he was an infant. His father married Jane Mills in 1818, and the family then moved to Witton-le-Wear.

George Taylor's friend Charles Arbuthnot found positions in London for Henry Taylor and George, one of his older brothers. They went to London in 1817 with the second brother, William, a medical student, but soon afterwards they all caught typhus fever. William and George died in a fortnight. Henry Taylor then took up post in Barbados.

Taylor's place was abolished in 1820, and he returned to his father's house.

Taylor had been introduced to Henry Holland, and through him obtained a clerkship in the Colonial Office. There he worked from 1824 until 1872, serving under the permanent secretary Robert William Hay in particular. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 1869 Birthday Honours.

Hay's successors were James Stephen, Herman Merivale and Frederic Rogers. Hay, Stephen, Taylor and James Spedding, who also worked in the Office, each brought forward reforming proposals. Taylor and Stephen were allies of Viscount Howick in his abolitionist efforts of the early 1830s. Hay was unhelpful, and was eventually ousted in favour of the efficient Stephen.