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{{Short description|English popular science writer}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}{{Other people|John Taylor}}

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| birth_place = Levenshulme, England1895|1837}}| death_place = Ipswich, England| nationality = | other_names = | occupation = Science writer, journalist, museum curator| years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}John Ellor Taylor (1837, Levenshulme, England–1895, Ipswich, England) was an English popular science writer, journalist and museum curator.Biographical article, see: S.J. Plunkett, ‘Dr John Ellor Taylor: Guide, Philosopher and Friend,’ Proc. Suffolk Institute of Archaeology XL Part 2, 2002, pp. 164-200. See also S.J. Plunkett, ‘Taylor, John Ellor (1837-1895), curator and popularizer of science’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (OUP 2004).

Early life

The eldest son of William Taylor (died 1864), foreman in a Lancashire cotton-factory, and his wife Maria (born Ellor), he was born at Levenshulme, near Manchester, on 21 September 1837. He received no education except some desultory instruction at a school held in the Wesleyan chapel, which he supplemented by private study. About 1850 he obtained a situation as store-boy at the locomotive works of the London and North-Western Railway at Longsight. Two years later he was bound apprentice as a fitter and turner at the same works. Encouraged by the locomotive superintendent, John Ramsbottom, Taylor applied himself to Latin, Greek, and the natural sciences, and when seventeen began to attend evening classes at the Manchester Mechanics’ Institute. A year later he became lay preacher for the Wesleyans, but on account of his scientific opinions he had to abandon his notion of becoming a minister.

Career

After a brief stay in the engineer draughtsman’s office at the LNWR Crewe works, he obtained in 1863 a position as sub-editor on the Norwich Mercury under Richard Noverre Bacon. Subsequently he became editor of the Norwich People’s Journal, or People’s Weekly Journal,Libraries & Information, East Midlands, People’s Weekly Journal. an offshoot of the Mercury, and under him the Journal became a success.(File:Norwich Mercury 1869.jpg|thumb|1869 advertisement mentioning the People’s Weekly Journal.)From 1858 onwards Taylor was a popular lecturer on science. In conjunction with John Gunn he established the Norwich Geological Society in 1864. In 1869 Taylor was elected to the Geological Society and also founded the Ipswich Science Gossip Society.With failing health, Taylor found himself in financial difficulties and was compelled to resign his post in 1893.