John Taylor died on August 24th, 1920, at the age of 78 years.
He was the third John Taylor in succession in the well-known firm of John Taylor & Sons, which his grandfather founded upwards of a century and a-quarter ago. He was educated at Hove House School, the London University, and the Royal School of Mines, and subsequently studied practical mining in Wales and Devonshire, and worked underground at the Wheal Friendship Mine, near Tavistock. In 1881, he undertook the local management, under his father’s firm, of mines in Wales, residing at Sandycroft and having at the same time the management of the engineering works there. He became a partner in John Taylor & Sons in 1871, and in 1883, on the death of his father and uncle, he succeeded as head of the firm, a position he held until his retirement from active work in 1903.
In 1871-2 he paid three visits to the United States to inspect mines in California, Nevada, Missouri and Illinois, and in 1874 he made a prolonged tour of inspection through Spain and Portugal. In 1875 he was appointed engineer to the Halkyn District Mines Drainage Company, a scheme whereby the mines underlying Halkyn Mountain were unwatered through a long tunnel.
He was associated with the management of many mining companies but was perhaps best known in connection with the development of Indian mines. It was largely due to his foresight and energy that the Kolar Gold Field arrived at success after the singularly unpropitious results following its prospecting and early development. He was a director of the Cape Copper, Balaghat, Champion Reef, Mysore, Nundydroog, Ooregum, and other companies.
Mr. Taylor was an original Member of the Institution (1892)
Vol. 30, Trans IMM 1920-21, p.484
