Robert Taylor (architect)

Sir Robert Taylor
The Guildhall, Carmarthen by Sir Robert Taylor 1767–77
Born	1714 Woodford, Essex
Died	27 September 1788(1788-09-27) London
Nationality	English
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Bank of England Heveningham Hall Gorhambury House

Sir Robert Taylor (1714–1788) was a notable English architect of the mid- to late 18th century.

Born at Woodford, Essex, Taylor followed in his father's footsteps and started working as a stonemason and sculptor, spending time as a pupil of Sir Henry Cheere. Despite some important commissions, including a bust of London merchant Christopher Emmott (died 1745) today held in the church of St Bartholomew, Colne, Lancashire, and another of William Phipps (died 1748), now in the parish church of Westbury, Wiltshire, he enjoyed little success and turned instead to architecture and ultimately became a leading architect of his time.

Among his earliest projects was Asgill House (known then as Richmond Place), built for a wealthy banker, Sir Charles Asgill, in Richmond upon Thames (c. 1760), and nearby Oak House. Through such connections, he came to be appointed as architect to the Bank of England until his death (caused by catching a chill at his friend Asgill's funeral in September 1788, he is buried in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey) when he was succeeded by Sir John Soane. In 1769 he succeeded Sir William Chambers as Architect of the King's Works. His pupils included John Nash, Samuel Pepys Cockerell, George Byfield and William Pilkington.