• Name: Taylor, John
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: 9  August  1757
• Death Date: 4  May  1832
• Occupation: writer
• Occupation: journal editor

There are a number of Taylors in the diary. There is significant difficulty in distinguishing between them particularly due to Godwin's inconsistent use of an initial. A brief discusion of the prominent Taylors follows.

John Taylor was a drama critic who had a lifelong passion for the theatre and who went on to own Tory newspaper The Sun. In his memoirs, Taylor refers to 'my old friend Godwin' (p. 444) and also refers in passing to him on a number of other occasions. In addition, Taylor also seems to have been a close associate of John King's, along with Godwin and Holcroft, and it should be noted that a number of the 'Taylor' entries, without an initial in 1795, are associated with King. Moreover, Godwin records in his 1796 lists that he meets J Taylor in 1792, and it seems likely that the meeting on 21 March 1792, at Holcroft's with John Wolcot, Taylor and William Shield, might be the occasion of their meeting, since Taylor was close to both Wolcot and Shield. Thus, subsequent 'Taylor' entries (and John Taylor, J Taylor, or JT) have been coded as John Taylor, in so far as they correspond to his known circle of acquaintance. However, some of the 'J Taylor's' have been coded as John Taylor of Norwich, where the meetings (as in 1794), take place in Norwich. It appears to have taken a while for Godwin to settle down to a consistent method of referring to the various Taylors.

Marshall identifies the early meetings with 'Taylor', usually at Thomas Brand Hollis's as meetings with Thomas Taylor (1758–1835), the philosopher and translator. Godwin also enters in his notes in the 1796 lists that he meets T Taylor in 1789, and J Taylor in 1792. Marshall also states that Godwin's meetings with W. Taylor in Norwich refer to William Taylor (1765–1836), reviewer and translator. St Clair, in addition, notes a Richard Taylor, Godwin's printer around 1820. Richard Taylor (1781–1858), was a printer and naturalist (DNB) whose printing firm operated in London from 1803. He was also the second son of John Taylor of Norwich. From 1814-1823 his younger brother Arthur was also a partner in the firm. 'R Taylor' first appears in the diary in 1800, but he would by then have been only 19 years old and was an apprentice, which makes it unlikely - but not impossible - that Godwin would have seen him regularly. Richard also had two other brothers, John (1779–1863) and Edward (1784–1863).

We have coded the Taylors as follows:

1788-1793

As per Marshall, it appears that the early Taylors in this period refer to Thomas Taylor, philosopher. There is, however, no evidence to support this other than the fact that Godwin notes meeting a T Taylor in 1789 in his 1796 lists. This meeting occurs via Brand Hollis and two subsequent Taylors who also appear with Hollis are also coded as Thomas Taylor. Godwin meets John Taylor the critic in 1792, as discussed above. The picture in 1793 is more complicated: the Reveleys host a dinner on on 14 December 1793 and the guests included Tresham, Woodford, Taylor, and Underwood. Tresham, Woodford, and Underwood appear to be all Royal Academy painters which suggests that Taylor here may be John Taylor (1739–1838), a portrait painter who also exhibited at the Royal Academy at this time as the other painters listed. However, Godwin noted meeting 'Taylor, Soc. of Artists' in 1804 in his 1796 lists so this instance has been left as John Taylor the critic. SImilarly, the Taylor mentioned on 14 August 1793 has been identified as John Taylor the critic but this is uncertain.

1794

All Taylors encountered in Norwich are coded as John Taylor of Norwich. All instances of J Taylor in London have been coded as John the critic as have instances of Taylor which are commensurate with his known circle. There are two instances of Taylor (8 July and 16 August 1794) which have also been coded as John the critic but there is insufficient context to be certain. In November 1794 Godwin meets 'Taylor Lanc' at Newgate when visiting Joseph Gerrald. From contextual information it is reasonably certain that the remaining Taylors in this year refer to this new and still unidentified Taylor.

1795-

From this point on, the Taylors, J Taylors, and other initialled Taylors appear to be a little easier to distinguish and have been coded according to contextual information. Post-1800, there is a high degree of probablility that 'Taylor' is generally used to refer to Richard Taylor, printer as one entry refers to 'Taylor (150 copies)'. In addition, this Taylor only appears as a 'Call on' indicating perhaps that the relationship is commercial rather than social (ie they almost never meet at theatre or at meals). Godwin also seems to call on this Taylor after or before calling on publishers George Robinson or Richard Philips, again indicating a commercial relationship. This analysis is further supported by an 1804 entry 'Call on Taylor (adv J Taylor and Susan). This is taken to refer to Richard Taylor and his Norwich parents, John and Susan. Note also the rapidly declining use of Taylor once R Taylor starts to appear with greater frequency from 1805 or so. There is one entry 15 November 1815 where Taylor is coded as John Taylor as the contact is at Wolcot's.

'Mrs Taylor' has been coded as Susannah Taylor of Norwich (Godwin refers to her as Susan) as 1) she appears with her children on occasion and 2) when she appears she tends to appear 2-3 times in quick succession suggesting brief visits to London to see her children. Although it is possible that 'Mrs Taylor' refers in places to Richard Taylor's wife whose name is unknown.

In instances such as Taylors, 2 Taylors, 3 Taylors etc, they have been associated with either John Taylor the critic, John Taylor of Norwich, or Richard Taylor according to context.

There are a number of Taylors who have not been coded.

• MS. Abinger c. 2, fol. 83: 13 January 1795.
• MS. Abinger c. 3, fol. 48: 22 February? 1796.
• MS. Abinger c. 43, fol. 16-17: 15 January 1823.
• David Chandler, Norwich Literature, 1788-97: A Critical Survey (unpub. Oxford D.Phil. thesis, 1997).
• DNB
• Marshall.
• St Clair.
• John Taylor, Records of my Life, 2 vols (London, 1832).

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.