Edward Wilfred Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Wilfred Taylor
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Taylor in May 1952 after his admission into the Royal Society.
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| Born | 29 April 1891 Bootham, York, England
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| Died | 1 November 1980 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Optical instrument manufacturer and researcher |
Edward Wilfred Taylor (born April 29, 1891 – died November 1, 1980) was a clever British inventor and maker of optical instruments. He created things like special lenses and tools that help us see far away or tiny objects. He was also a big fan of nature!
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Edward Taylor's Life Story
Edward Taylor was born in York, England, on April 29, 1891. His dad, Harold Dennis Taylor, was also an expert in optical instruments. So, Edward grew up around lenses and telescopes!
He went to a special school in Scarborough and then to Oundle School. When he was 17, in 1908, he started learning a trade. He became an apprentice at a company called Thomas Cooke & Sons in York. This is where he learned how to make optical instruments.
Travel and War Service
In 1912, Edward traveled to the United States. He sailed on a famous ship called the RMS Lusitania. He went there to show the US government new rangefinder equipment. These tools help measure distances, which is very useful for armies.
When World War I started, Edward joined the army. He was part of the Royal Fusiliers and later the Sherwood Foresters. He worked as a range finding officer, using his skills to help soldiers measure distances.
During the Battle of the Somme, he was hurt. After he got better, he joined the Royal Navy. He served on a battleship called HMS King George V (1911). In 1917, he helped equip the navy's ships with new searchlights. He left the military in April 1919.
Return to York and Inventions
After the war, Edward went back to York. He continued working at Thomas Cooke & Sons. In 1921, he married Winifred Mary Hunter.
By 1926, he became the optical manager at his company. He helped build important instruments for places like Leiden University and the Greenwich Observatory. During World War II, Edward was very busy. He designed and made rangefinder equipment for the Allied armies. These tools were vital for helping soldiers aim their weapons accurately.
Nature Lover and Awards
Edward Taylor loved nature and worked to protect it. He was the president of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union in 1955. He even gave a speech about the mammals in Yorkshire! He also helped start the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which protects wild places.
He was a member and later a Vice-President of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. Edward was given a special award called a CBE in 1946. In 1952, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society.
