Nicholas Van Campen Taylor | |
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Member of the Texas Senate from the 8th district |
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Assumed office January 13, 2015 |
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Preceded by | Ken Paxton |
Member of Texas House of Representatives from the 66th district |
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In office April 20, 2010 – January 13, 2015 |
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Preceded by | Brian McCall |
Succeeded by | Matt Shaheen |
Personal details | |
Born |
Dallas, Texas |
August 1, 1972
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Anne Taylor (m. 2002) |
Residence | Plano, Texas |
Alma mater | Harvard College |
Occupation | Businessman |
Religion | Episcopalian |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
Rank | Major |
Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Nicholas Van Campen Taylor, known as Van Taylor (born August 1, 1972), is an American businessman and politician from Plano, Texas. A veteran of the Iraq War and a member of the Republican Party, he represents District 8 in the Texas State Senate. He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 66 in western Collin County.
A seventh-generation Texan, Taylor was born in Dallas. He is a direct descendant of one of the founders of Humble Oil, which later became Exxon-Mobil. He grew up in Midland, Texas, where he attended the Hillander School and San Jacinto Junior High School. He graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He subsequently graduated in three years from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from which he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in history.
His parents divorced in 1999.
In Iraq, Taylor was assigned to the Marine Corps' Company C, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion and fought with 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. As a captain, Taylor led missions in advance of Task Force Tarawa during Operation Iraqi Freedom, which detected and defeated several Fedayeen ambushes. He also participated in a casualty evacuation of thirty-one wounded Marines, transporting them safely to medical treatment.