Taylor, George, 1716-1781

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1775 PA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

<p>George Taylor (c. 1716 – February 23, 1781) was a Founding Father of the United States, Colonial ironmaster, and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Pennsylvania. Today, his former home, the George Taylor House in Catasauqua, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, is a National Historic Landmark owned by the Borough of Catasauqua.</p>

<p>Born in Ireland, Taylor emigrated to the American colonies at age 20, landing in Philadelphia in 1736. According to early 18th century biographies of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, he was the son of a Protestant clergyman. To pay for his passage, Taylor was indentured to Samuel Savage, Jr., who was ironmaster at Coventry Forge in Chester County northwest of Philadelphia. Taylor started as a laborer at the ironworks, but when it was discovered he had a certain degree of education, he was promoted to a position in the offices as a clerk.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in 1738, Savage and his mother Anna Savage Nutt built a second mill in Chester County, Warwick Furnace. Three years later, Savage died, and the following year, Taylor married Savage's widow, Ann, whose maiden name was also Taylor. Having learned the iron-making operations, Taylor became ironmaster, managing the two ironworks for the next 10 years. When Ann's son Samuel III reached legal age in 1752, the son assumed ownership of the mills in accordance with the terms of his father's will.</p>

<p>Little is known about George Taylor. He was a working man and little concerned with politics, though he acted in service to his nation when called. He was born in Northern Ireland and emigrated to America in his early twenties. He was an Ironmaster at the Warwick Furnace and Coventry Forge. Later he and a partner leased an iron furnace in Bucks County. Iron production was his principal concern all of his life.</p>

<p>Taylor was elected to the provincial assembly for Pennsylvania in 1764, and was reelected for five consecutive years. He was a member of the committee to draft the instructions of Pennsylvania delegates to the first Continental Congress, a member of the Committee of Correspondence, and of the Committee of Safety. In 1775 he was appointed to replace a member of the Pennsylvania delegation who refused to support Independence. He arrived too late to vote, but did sign the Declaration. He served Congress through 1777. He was then elected to the new Supreme Council of his state, but served for only six weeks, apparently due to illness. There is no record of any public service afterward. He died in 1781 at the age of 65.</p>