Edgar Taylor died at his residence, ‘Savins’, Wheathampstead, on January 30th, 1942, at the age of 83.
He was a grandson of the John Taylor who in 1799 founded the firm of John Taylor & Sons, and sixth son of the second John Taylor, and was the youngest of four brothers who eventually were partners in the firm. He entered the Royal School of Mines in 1878, but before completing his course joined the staff of John Taylor & Sons, and in that connexion paid visits to Spain and Portugal.
In 1883 he went to Canada to inspect the Canadian Sulphur and Copper Mine and in the following year went to France to report on an antimony proposition at Langear, followed in 1884 and 1885 by trips to the Pestarena Gold Mine, Northern Italy, and to Costa Rica. In 1886 he paid his first visit to the Kolar Gold Field, and in the course of the next six years also went to Australia and Venezuela and made, an extensive tour through South Africa. In 1893 he was admitted to partnership in the family firm, and still went abroad, visiting Pestarena for the second time in 1894, and Norway in 1898.
In 1900 he went to India with his nephew, Arthur Enfield Taylor, and was largely instrumental in obtaining the concession from the Mysore’ Government which resulted in the installation of the Cauvery Falls electric power scheme, that was to prove of such great benefit to the Kolar Gold Field and the surrounding district.
During the 1914-1918 war he served on the committee of the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau which was concerned with gold, silver, platinum and kindred metals. On the retirement of his brother, the late Sir Robert Taylor, in 1920, Mr. Edgar Taylor became senior partner of the firm and held that position until his own retirement in 1927.
Mr. Taylor’s connexion with the Institution was long and of inestimable value. He was a founder and original member, and was elected a Member of Council in 1894, and Vice-President for two periods, 1898-1900 and 1905-1909. He held a unique record as President, with two terms of office each of more than the usual year’s duration, 1909-1911 and 1916-1918 respectively. On the death of Arthur C. Claudet in 1913, he was appointed Hon. Treasurer of the Institution and held that position until 1939, when he retired in favour of Dr. J.G. Lawn, the present holder of that distinguished office. Mr. Taylor was awarded the Gold Medal of the Institution in 1922, in recognition of his services to the Institution since its foundation in 1892, and as an evidence of appreciation of his honourable record of work in connexion with the development of the mining industry, particularly in India, and he was elected an Honorary Member in 1938.
Vol. 52, Trans IMM 1942-43, p.402
