Taylor, Benjamin Harrison

Dates

• Existence: 1888-1930

Biography

Benjamin Harrison Taylor was born on August 4, 1888 in Johnson City, Tennessee. He attended city schools and subsequently entered Milligan College, graduating from there in 1911. He then entered the National Law School in Washington, D.C. After graduation he returned to Johnson City, procured a Tennessee license and began his law practice. He became a partner of Thad A. Cox and remained in this partnership until he died on March 26, 1930.

Benjamin Taylor was the son of Alfred A. Taylor (August 6, 1848-November 24, 1931) and the nephew of Robert Love Taylor (1850-1912). Alfred Taylor was born in Happy Valley in Carter County, Tennessee and received education from Duffield Academy in Elizabethton; Pennington Seminary in Pennington, New Jersey; and Buffalo Institute (now Milligan College). Alfred Taylor studied law and began practicing in Jonesboro, Tennessee in 1870. He served in the Tennessee legislature in 1875-1876. In 1886, Alfred Taylor's and Robert Taylor's political careers brought about Tennessee's "War of the Roses" in which the two brothers fought for the governorship of the state. Robert Taylor served as governor for three terms; after his defeat, the Republican candidate, Alfred Taylor returned to his law practice. He was later elected to the United States Congress, serving from 1889 to 1895 and as governor of Tennessee, serving only one term.

Citation:

Alfred Alexander Taylor, Dictionary of American Biography, Volume IX. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons) p. 313.

Other sources on the Taylors include: Bob and Alf Taylor: Their Lives and Lectures by Paul Deresco Augsburg and "Old Limber or the Tale of the Taylors by DeLong Rice.

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