(1786 August 26, 1826) was an American military commander and politician.
Taylor was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia
where he spent his entire childhood. He studied law and served in the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1800 to 1802.
In 1804 he moved to Vincennes, Indiana
and practiced law there. He was appointed chancellor of the Indiana Territory in 1807. Also in 1807, he became a major in the territorial militia. He fought against Native Americans
and served as an aide-de-camp
to William Henry Harrison
during the Tecumseh's War
in 1809 to 1810. He participated in the Battle of Tippecanoe
Taylor continued in the United States Army during the War of 1812
and rose to the rank of adjutant general.
Taylor was a strong supporter of slavery
and believed that slavery should have been allowed in Indiana. The slavery party had lost its majority status in the 1809 election and Taylor was part of the pro-slavery party trying regain power. He campaigned to become the congressional representative for Indiana in 1812 but was defeated by Jonathan Jennings
. He had a hot temper and during the campaign challenged Jennings to a duel; Jennings declined.
In 1816, when Indiana
became a state, he was chosen along with James Noble
to join the United States Senate
as the first senators from Indiana. Taylor was elected to a full term in 1818 and left the Senate when that term expired in 1825.
Taylor was a member of the faction in the United States Senate that supported John......