Henry Martyn Taylor facts for kids

Henry Martyn Taylor (born June 6, 1842, in Bristol, England – died October 16, 1927, in Cambridge, England) was an English mathematician and barrister (a type of lawyer). He was known for his important work in mathematics and for creating a special Braille notation system for blind people.

Taylor was the second son of Rev. James Taylor and Eliza Johnson. He went to school in Wakefield and later studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was a very bright student and graduated in 1865.

Creating Braille for Math

In 1894, Henry Martyn Taylor became blind. At that time, he was working on a special edition of Euclid's famous geometry book for Cambridge University Press. Even though he couldn't see, he didn't give up.

He decided to create his own system for writing math and science using Braille. Braille is a way for blind people to read using their fingertips. Taylor's system was very clever and well-planned. It allowed him to write down complex scientific and mathematical ideas.

By 1917, with help from Mr. Emblen, who was also blind and worked at the National Institute for the Blind, Taylor made his Braille system even better. It was so complete and useful that it became the standard way to write math and chemistry for blind people in English-speaking countries. This system was used for many years until newer systems like Nemeth Braille and later Unified English Braille were adopted.

Achievements and Legacy

Henry Martyn Taylor was recognized for his important contributions. In June 1898, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.

He also served his community in a different way. From 1900 to 1901, he was the Mayor of Cambridge. This shows he was involved in local government and cared about his town.

Henry Martyn Taylor passed away in Cambridge in 1927. He is buried in the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground in Cambridge, alongside his mother. His work, especially his Braille system, helped many blind students and scientists access knowledge.