Edward Taylor Biography

BIOGRAPHY
He was born into a fairly prosperous farm family around 1642, possibly in Sketchley, Leicestershire, England. Taylor's mother died in 1657 and his father a year later. The boy apparentlyattended a school run by a nonconformist teacher, but little else is known of his education; there is no evidence to support the frequently repeated contention that he attended Cambridge UniversityTaylor left England for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Following seventy days at sea, he landed in Boston and shortly thereafter entered Harvard College, where for the next three years he studiedLatin, Greek, Hebrew, logic, and rhetoric. After receiving his degree in 1671, Taylor accepted a position at a church in the small farming community of Westfield

Taylor left England for theMassachusetts Bay Colony. Following seventy days at sea, he landed in Boston and shortly thereafter entered Harvard College, where for the next three years he studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew, logic, and rhetoric.After receiving his degree in 1671, Taylor accepted a position at a church in the small farming community of Westfield

When peace returned, Taylor assumed his church duties in earnest; he wasordained in 1679 and began preaching to his congregation. Since colonial America had few formally trained physicians, the role was often filled by ministers and other public officials, particularly inoutlying areas. Thus, in addition to his farming and ministerial duties, Taylor also served as the only physician to the Westfield community

In 1689 Taylor's wife Elizabeth died; three years later hemarried Ruth Wyllys, of Hartford, with whom he had six more children. In failing health in his last years, Taylor continued to write elegies and religious verse until the very end. He died on June 24,1729, and is buried in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Edward Taylor Major Works
Taylor's earliest poetry, written while he was still in England, reflects his Puritan beliefs as well as his animosity...