A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Taylor, Robert
TAYLOR. (Lieut., 1821. f-p., 35; h-p., 5.)
Robert Taylor entered the Navy, 24 July, 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Zebra bomb, Capts. Wm. Bowles, Jas. Tillard, Thos. Rich. Toker, and Geo. Barne Trollope, attached to the force in the Baltic, where he united, under Capt. Bowles, in Admiral Gambier’s attack upon Copenhagen, and came frequently into warm collision with the Danish batteries and flotilla. In Feb. 1809 (he had attained the rating of Midshipman in May, 1808) he removed to the Cerberus 32, Capt. Henry Whitby; and after serving for rather more than two years in the Channel in the Primrose and Wolverene sloops (in the latter of which vessels, commanded by Capt. Chas. Julius Kerr, he assisted at the capture, 9 Nov. 1811, of La Courageuse privateer of 14 guns and 70 men), he sailed, in the spring of 1812, for the East Indies in the Minden 74, Capt. Alex. Skene, whom he there followed, in April, 1813, into the Illustrious 74. He was afterwards, from Feb. 1814 until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 29 Jan. 1821, employed on the Home, South American, and Mediterranean stations, in the Cadmus 10, Capts. Evans and John Gedge, Albion and Bulwark 74’s, flagship of Sir Chas. Rowley, Northumberland 74, Capt. Jas. Walker, Speedwell Revenue-cruizer, Lieut.-Commander John Mundell, and Vengeur 74, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland. While serving in the Cadmus he was for a short tune Acting-Lieutenant; in the other ships he performed the duties of Mate and Admiralty Midshipman. His appointments since his promotion have been – 26 Nov. 1823 and 5 March, 1825, as a Supernumerary, to the Ramillies 74 and Hyperion 42, Coast Blockade ships, Capts. Wm. M‘Cullooh and Wm. Jas. Mingaye, under whose orders he remained for about six years – 11 June, 1833, to the command, for three years, of the Victorine Revenue cruizer – and, 25 June, 1835, to the Coast Guard, in which service, with the exception of a few months in 1838-9, he has been ever since employed.