Kenneth D. Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kenneth D. Taylor
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| Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Iran | |
| In office September 1977 – January 1980 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau (1977–79) Joe Clark (1979–80) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kenneth Douglas Taylor
October 5, 1934 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | October 15, 2015 (aged 81) New York City, New York, United States |
| Spouse | Pat Taylor |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto University of California, Berkeley |
Kenneth Douglas Taylor (October 5, 1934 – October 15, 2015) was a Canadian diplomat and businessman. He is best known for his brave actions during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. At that time, he was the Canadian ambassador to Iran.
Taylor helped six Americans escape from Iran in a secret plan called the "Canadian Caper". He worked with the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Taylor got Canadian passports for the Americans. They pretended to be a Canadian film crew looking for movie locations. This helped them trick the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Before their escape, the six Americans hid for several weeks. They stayed in the homes of Taylor and another Canadian diplomat, John Sheardown.
Kenneth Taylor's story has been told in movies. He was played by Gordon Pinsent in the 1981 Canadian TV movie, Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper. Later, in the 2012 American film Argo, Taylor was played by Victor Garber. This movie focused more on the CIA's part in the rescue.
After Taylor passed away, The Washington Post newspaper called him the "main hero" of the escape. Former US President Jimmy Carter also praised him. In 1981, Taylor received the Congressional Gold Medal from President Ronald Reagan.
Early Life and Education
Kenneth Taylor was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He studied at the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He was part of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He later received their highest award, Significant Sigma Chi.
The Iran Hostage Crisis
On November 4, 1979, Iranian students took over the United States embassy in Tehran. During this event, six Americans managed to get away. They hid for four days. Then, they found their way to the Canadian embassy. There, they met Ambassador Taylor. He quickly came up with a plan to help them leave Iran safely.
On January 20, 1981, the remaining 52 American hostages were set free. They had been held captive for 444 days. This happened as Ronald Reagan became the new US President.
Taylor played a very important role during the crisis. He shared information with Canadian and American intelligence groups. He even helped find places where a rescue mission, called Operation Eagle Claw, could land. This mission was later stopped.
The 2012 movie Argo was based on these events. After the movie was shown, some people felt it did not give enough credit to Canada's role. They thought it especially minimized Taylor's part in the rescue. The film added some made-up events for drama. It also suggested that the CIA let Taylor take all the credit.
The movie's director, Ben Affleck, said the film was "based on a true story," not "a true story." This allowed for some creative changes. However, Affleck did change the ending of the film. The new ending said that the CIA's efforts helped the Canadian embassy's work. It called the story a great example of international teamwork. News videos showing Canada's role were also added. Taylor himself said the movie was "fun" and "thrilling." But he also pointed out that "Canada was not merely standing around." He said the CIA was a "junior partner."
Later Life and Achievements
After returning from Iran, Taylor became the Canadian Consul-General in New York City. In 1980, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. His wife, Pat, and other Canadians involved in the escape also received this honor. That same year, he was awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal. He also received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
He later returned to the University of Toronto. He served as the Chancellor of Victoria College for several years.
Taylor left his job as a diplomat in 1984. He then worked as a Senior Vice-President for Nabisco. He held this position from 1984 to 1989.
Kenneth Taylor lived in New York City until he passed away. He died on October 15, 2015, at the age of 81. He had been treated for colon cancer. His funeral was held in Toronto. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his son, Douglas, and two grandchildren, Tristan and Kassia.
