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John W. Taylor (politician)

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John W. Taylor
9th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office
December 5, 1825 – March 4, 1827
Preceded byHenry Clay
Succeeded byAndrew Stevenson
In office
November 15, 1820 [a] – March 4, 1821
Preceded byHenry Clay
Succeeded byPhilip P. Barbour
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1833
Preceded byThomas R. Gold
Succeeded byJoel Turrill
Constituency11th district (1813–1823)
17th district (1823–1833)
Member of the New York Senate
from the 5th district
In office
January 1, 1841 – December 31, 1842
Preceded bySamuel Young
Succeeded bySidney Lawrence
Personal details
BornMarch 26, 1784
Charlton, New York
DiedSeptember 18, 1854 (aged 70)
Cleveland, Ohio
Political partyDemocratic-Republican (before 1825)
National Republican (after 1825)
SpouseJane Hodge Taylor
Alma materUnion College
ProfessionLaw

John W. Taylor (March 26, 1784 – September 18, 1854) was an early 19th-century U.S. politician from New York. He served twice as speaker of the House of Representatives.

Life

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Taylor was born in 1784 in that part of the Town of Ballston, then in Albany County, New York, which was, upon the creation of Saratoga County in 1791, split off to form the Town of Charlton. He received his first education at home.

Taylor graduated from Union College in 1803 as valedictorian of his class. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1807, and practiced in Ballston Spa, New York. In 1806, he married Jane Hodge (died 1838), of Albany, New York, and they had eight children. He was a member from Saratoga County of the New York State Assembly in 1812 and 1812–13.

Taylor served in the United States House of Representatives for 20 years, from 1813 to 1833, and was twice elected as Speaker of the House: in 1820 and in 1825. In 1819, he supported the proposed Tallmadge Amendment regarding the Missouri Territory's admission to the Union as a free state (which passed the House, but was defeated in the Senate), and was a staunch proponent of the subsequent Missouri Compromise of March 1820. During the floor debate on the Tallmadge Amendment, Taylor boldly criticized southern lawmakers who frequently voiced their dismay that slavery was entrenched and necessary to their existence.[1]

After leaving Congress, Taylor resumed his law practice in Ballston Spa, and was a member of the New York State Senate (4th D.) in 1841 and 1842. He resigned his seat on August 19, 1842, after suffering a paralytic stroke. In 1843, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to live with his eldest daughter and her husband William D. Beattie, and died there 11 years later.[2] He was buried in the Ballston Spa Village Cemetery.

Note(s)

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  1. ^ multi-ballot election; voting lasted two days (The vacancy was caused by Henry Clay's resignation in October)

References

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  1. ^ Gooley, Lawrence P. (January 23, 2019). "John W. Taylor: New York's (Almost Only) Speaker of the House". Adirondack Almanack. Saranac Lake, New York: Adirondack Explorer. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  2. ^ Genealogy of Judge John Taylor and His Descendants , pages 25ff
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 11th congressional district
1813–1823 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
1820–1821 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th congressional district
1823–1833 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
1825–1827 		Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate
Fourth District (Class 2)
1841–1842 		Succeeded by
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