John Edward Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Edward Taylor
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| Born | 11 September 1791 |
| Died | 6 January 1844 (aged 52) |
| Occupation | Editor and publisher Business tycoon |
| Family | Mary Scott (mother), Stanley Jevons (son-in-law) |
John Edward Taylor (born September 11, 1791 – died January 6, 1844) was an important English businessman and publisher. He is best known for starting the Manchester Guardian newspaper in 1821. This newspaper is now known simply as The Guardian.
Contents
Early Life and Family
John Edward Taylor was born in a town called Ilminster in England. His mother, Mary Scott, was a poet. His father, John Taylor, was a Unitarian minister. After his mother passed away, John Edward moved to Manchester with his father. There, his father ran a school where John Edward was educated.
Later, John Edward trained to work in a cotton factory in Manchester. He then became a very successful merchant, buying and selling goods. He married his first cousin, Sophia Russell Taylor. They had children, including a son also named John Edward Taylor. Their daughter, Harriet Ann Taylor, later married a famous economist named Stanley Jevons.
The Little Circle Group
John Edward Taylor was a supporter of making changes to how the country was run. From 1815, he was part of a group called the Little Circle. This group was made up of people who wanted to see reforms in Britain. They often met at the home of John Potter in Manchester.
Who Was in the Little Circle?
Other members of this group included:
- Joseph Brotherton, a preacher
- Archibald Prentice, who later edited the Manchester Times newspaper
- John Shuttleworth, a factory owner and reformer
- Absalom Watkin, who worked for parliamentary reform
- William Cowdray Jnr, editor of the Manchester Gazette
- Thomas Potter, who became the first mayor of Manchester
- Richard Potter, who became a Member of Parliament
Working for Change
After John Potter died, his brothers continued the group. They started a campaign to change how Parliament worked. They wanted industrial towns like Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and Salford to have more representatives in Parliament. At the time, many small, old towns had too many representatives, while big, growing cities had very few.
Absalom Watkin helped the group by presenting their ideas to Parliament. Because of their efforts and others, Parliament passed the Reform Act 1832. This law made important changes to the voting system in Britain.
Founding the Manchester Guardian
At the time, some newspapers in Manchester supported big protests. However, John Edward Taylor and his friends wanted a newspaper that was more balanced. They wanted a paper that reflected the views of liberal factory owners.
In 1821, the members of the Little Circle (except for Cowdroy) supported John Edward Taylor. They helped him start the Manchester Guardian newspaper. By law, it could only be published once a week. John Edward Taylor was the editor of this newspaper until he passed away.
His Passing
John Edward Taylor is buried in the Rusholme Road Cemetery in Manchester. His first wife, Sophia Russell Scott, is also buried there.
A Lasting Legacy
John Edward Taylor's younger son, also named John Edward Taylor (but usually called Edward), continued his father's work. In 1852, he became a co-owner of the Manchester Guardian. Four years later, he became the sole owner. He also edited the newspaper from 1861 to 1872.
Edward Taylor also bought the Manchester Evening News newspaper in 1868. He owned it until his death. Edward did not have any children. After he died, the Evening News went to his nephews. The Guardian newspaper was sold to his cousin, C. P. Scott, who became a very famous editor.
