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Bayard Taylor Bayard Taylor (1825-1878) was an important 19th century writer and statesman, whose great sensitivity and depth, especially in artistic and cultural matters, earned him the respect of the public as well as influential government positions. Taylor was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, of Quaker and South German descent. In 1842 he was apprenticed to a printer in West Chester, a trade he would find distasteful. To gratify his desire for travel and study in Europe, he made an arrangement for the "Post" and the "United States Gazette" to pay him fifty dollars in advance for twelve foreign letters. Taylor thereafter went on a variety of assignments, including California during the gold rush, the Middle East, and the Far East. He was often in demand as a lecturer. At the beginning of the Civil War, Taylor wrote in favor of the Union, and in May, 1862, he was appointed secretary of legation at St. Petersburg. When left for a time in sole charge, he was influential in having Russia extend its friendship to the United States government. In 1877 he was nominated by President Hayes as minister to Berlin, where he died. He wrote widely-regarded books of travel, poetry, short stories and history. Views of Old Europe More information on Views of Old Europe |
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