John Taylor (Unitarian hymn writer)

John Taylor (30 July 1750 – 23 June 1826) was an entrepreneur, poet and composer of hymns from Norwich, England.

John Taylor was born to Richard and Margaret Taylor, and was baptised in the parish of St. George's Colegate, Norwich. Richard Taylor was a local manufacturer and son of Dr. John Taylor.

At eight years of age, Taylor was sent to study with a business man in the village of Hindolveston. Shortly after his father's death in 1762 he returned home to assist his mother with her affairs.

Taylor returned to business three years later with an apprenticeship to two local manufacturers until 1768, when he left Norwich for a job as a bank-clerk in London, at Dinsdale, Archer and Ryde. It was during this time that he contributed occasional poetical pieces to the Morning Chronicle, one of which was entitled Verses written on the back of a Bank Note, a humorous look at the cashiers working the principal banking houses.

In 1773 he returned to Norwich and joined his brother Richard in the business of yarn manufacture. Four years later saw his marriage to Susanna, and the following year saw the beginnings of his work for the church. Taylor was first chosen to be a deacon, and went on to become treasurer of the church's benefactions. Taylor also oversaw the funding of local schools and his business expertise led to an increase in their funds. In 1781 he was elected to the Board of Guardians, an organisation responsible for administering and distributing funds of parish workhouses, places where people who were unable to support themselves could go to live and work. While on the board, Taylor set about training the paupers of Norwich to spin yarn, earning many thousand pounds for the parish. In 1784, having restored the family fortunes, he took an active part in the foundation of the Norwich Public Library. He developed an interest in local politics, joining the Whig party as a radical reformer, emerging as their leader in Norwich. He made social contact with HRH Duke of Sussex, the duke of Albemarle, and John Coke, Squire of Holkham Hall, who was nationally known as an agriculturalist.

Starting around 1802, Taylor was afflicted by severe pains resulting from gout. He wrote the following about his illness:

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