Isaac Tailor, an English author, born at Lavenham, Suffolk, Aug. 17, 1787, died at Stanford Rivers, Essex, June 28, 1865. His father, Isaac Taylor, originally a line engraver, became a dissenting minister, and wrote several popular books for children. His mother, Ann Taylor, wrote "Maternal Solicitude" and other educational works. The son was trained as an artist, but devoted himself to literature, and also displayed much mechanical ingenuity in his invention of an engraving machine which was employed in producing the plates for Traill's Josephus, and a machine for engraving patterns on rollers for calico printing, now in use in Manchester. Some of the designs from his pencil were engraved for Boydell's Bible. Though brought up as a dissenter, he became a member of the established church. In 1862 he received a civil service pension of £100 for his services to literature in the departments of history and philosophy. He published "Elements of Thought" (1822); " History of the Transmission of Ancient Books to Modern Times" (1827); "The Process of Historical Proof Exemplified and Explained " (1828); "Balance of Criminality, or Mental Error compared with Immoral Conduct " (1828); and a translation of Herodotus with notes (1829). In 1829 appeared anonymously his "Natural History of Enthusiasm," which was received with extraordinary favor, and was followed by " A New Model of Christian Missions" (1829); "Saturday Evening" (1832); "Fanaticism"(1833); "Spiritual Despotism" (1835); and "Physical Theory of Another Life" (1836), the last leading to the surrender of the author's incognito.

His other works are: " Home Education " (1838); "Ancient Christianity, and the Doctrines of the Oxford Tracts for the Times" (8 parts, 1839-'40; 4th ed., with supplement and indexes, 2 vols. 8vo, 1844); "Man Responsible for his Dispositions, Opinions, and Conduct" (1840); "Lectures on Spiritual Christianity" (1841); " Loyola, and Jesuitism in its Rudiments" (1849); "Wesley and Methodism" (1851); "The Restorations of Belief" (1855); "The World of Mind " (1857); " Logic in Theology, and other Essays" (1859); "The Liturgy and the Dissenters," and " Ultimate Civilization, and other Essays" (1860); "The Spirit of Hebrew Poetry " (1861); and " Considerations on the Pentateuch" (1863). - His brother Jeffreys published a number of popular books for young people. His sisters Ann (died 1866) and Jane (1783-1824) published "Original Poems" and "Hymns" for children,"and "Hymns" for Sunday schools. (See "Autobiography and other Memorials of Mrs. Gilbert, formerly Ann Taylor," edited by Josiah Gilbert, 2 vols., London, 1874.) Jane also published " Display," a tale (1815), and " Contributions of Q. Q." (1824); and her "Memoirs, Correspondence, and Poetical Remains" appeared in 1825 (2 vols.). - His son Isaac, a clergyman of the established church, has published "Words and Places" (1864; enlarged ed., 1865), which attempts to give a complete explanation of the local names of Great Britain; "The Family Pen: Memorials Biographical and Literary of the Taylor Family of On-gar" (2 vols., 1867); and "Etruscan Researches " (1874).