George Augustine Taylor facts for kids

George Augustine Taylor (born August 1, 1872 – died January 20, 1928) was a very talented Australian. He was an artist, a journalist, and an inventor.

Life and Achievements

George Taylor was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1872. When he was young, he started training to become an architect.

Early Career as an Artist

But he first became famous as an artist. He was part of a group of creative people in Sydney in the 1890s. He later wrote about their adventures in his book, Those Were the Days, published in 1918. He drew pictures for many newspapers and magazines, like The Bulletin and London Punch. George was also a member of the Dawn and Dusk Club. This was a group of thinkers and artists, including the famous writer Henry Lawson. In 1907, George married Florence Mary Parsons.

Pioneering Flight in Australia

Later, George became very interested in flying (aviation) and radio technology. He did amazing things in these fields. He experimented with a motorless airplane, called a glider. In November 1909, he built a full-sized one. He also talked with the inventor Lawrence Hargrave at this time.

George Taylor in his glider at Narrabeen in 1909. He built this glider himself!

On December 5, 1909, at Narrabeen, Sydney, George flew in the glider he designed. This made him the first person in Australia to fly in a heavier-than-air craft! His wife, Florence Taylor, also flew in his glider on the same day. Even though people had been gliding in other parts of the world for years, George's glider design was very advanced. It was similar to gliders used in Europe more than ten years later.

Innovations in Radio and Communication

George was also a pioneer in radio. In March 1910, he helped arrange a demonstration of wireless communication for army officers. He worked with other experts like Messrs. Kirkby, Hannam, and Wilkinson for these demonstrations.

In 1910 and 1911, he managed to send messages from one part of a moving train to another. He even exchanged messages between trains that were moving at full speed! This was a big achievement for the time.

George founded the Aerial League in 1909. He also helped start the Wireless Institute of New South Wales in 1910. This group is now known as the Wireless Institute of Australia and Amateur Radio New South Wales.

It was largely because of George's efforts that the first government wireless station was built in Australia. He also did interesting experiments with locating sounds using wireless technology. This was very helpful during World War I (1914-1918) for finding submarines.

In 1922, George visited Europe to learn about new developments in radio broadcasting. When he returned to Australia, he started an association to help develop wireless technology. He was elected its president. In May 1923, the Australian government held a meeting of wireless experts. George was chosen as the chairman. He did important work in creating the rules for radio broadcasting in Australia. He was also one of the first people to send sketches by wireless, both in black and white and in color.

Promoting Innovation

Around this time, George was also appointed to a committee that focused on inventions and patents for the British Science Guild. He strongly encouraged new scientific ideas. He believed that invention was key to achieving lasting world peace and making life better for everyone.

Journalism and Publishing

For many years, George successfully ran a monthly magazine called Building. He was both the owner and editor. Over time, he added other magazines, including the Construction and Local Government Journal, Australasian Engineer, and the Radio Journal of Australasia.

He also published two books of popular poems: Songs for Soldiers (1913) and Just Jingles (1922). He wrote some smaller books of sketches and stories too. George was very interested in town-planning. He published books on this topic, such as Town Planning for Australia (1914) and Town Planning with Common-sense (1918).

Legacy

George Augustine Taylor passed away on January 20, 1928, due to a health issue. He left behind his wife, Florence Mary Taylor. They did not have any children.

The Construction and Local Government Journal published an article about his life and achievements shortly after he died. In 1929, a gift of £1100 was given to the University of Sydney in his memory. This money was used to create a special lectureship in aviation or aeronautical engineering.

Works

• Taylor, George A., “By Wireless” How we got the signals through, Lieut Army Intelligence Corps
• Taylor, George A., The Air Age and its Military Significance, Lieut Army Intelligence Corps
• Taylor, George A., "Those Were The Days" being Reminiscences of Australian Artists and Writers