Capt.W. R. Taylor, Kingston

For the ensuing interesting sketch of the life of that well-known mariner Capt. W. R. Taylor, I am indebted for particulars to Capt. Thos. Donnelly, Government Steamboat Inspector. Capt. Taylor may fairly be called the "father of inland marine navigation". He was born on April 20, 1810, in the Town of Blyth, County of Northumberland, England. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to serve six years at sea, in the employ of Mr. Joseph Straker, a prominent British ship-owner. Capt. Taylor served in the North American and Baltic trades, occasionally making a trip between Shields and London.

Having served his six years in that employ, Capt. Taylor left Mr. Straker in 1829. In 1830 he sailed on the east coast of England. Afterwards he served one year as chief mate for his old employer in the Canada, and the following year in the England, in the same capacity.

In the summer of 1832 he left the England at Quebec, and came to Prescott, a perfect stranger, where he shipped as second mate in the steamer Queenston, owned by the Hon. John Hamilton. At this time came the first visitation of cholera to Canada, and Capt. Taylor can relate some harrowing scenes which he then witnessed. He remained on the Queenston until July 1833, when he shipped as second mate of the steamer William IV, leaving the latter vessel in December 1834. From that year until 1869 Capt. Taylor sailed the lakes. His vessels were the steamer Sir Francis Bond Head, schooner Thistle, schooner Shamrock, propeller St. Thomas, schooner Wm. Caley, schooner Governor, barge Superior, steamer Comet, schooner Annie Falconer, and schooner Annie Minnes. In 1843, when he was sailing the Shamrock, she capsized on Lake Erie and one of the crew was drowned. The captain managed to right her and brought her into port. In 1845 he sailed her again, and lost her in Long Point Cut. In the winter of 1854 he released the Comet, which was stranded east of Toronto, and took command of her.

On Capt. Taylor's retirement the association presented him with a beautiful illuminated address bearing high testimony to his character and ability accompanied by a handsome gold-headed cane. The medal shown on his breast in the portrait was presented to him by the British American Assurance Company for his services in releasing the steamer Ottawa, wrecked some years ago. The old gentleman in now 87 years of age but hale and hearty with an exceedingly bright memory and in possession of a fund of information on marine matters which to listen to is an education in itself. Anyone looking into his honest countenance can see the bluff old tar whom to know is to respect. He resides with his daughter Mrs. James Minnes on Bagot street in Kingston.

Mansfield 1851: The Canadian propeller Vandalia wrecked by collision with the schooner Fashion on Lake Erie; loss $14,000. The American Vandalia. first propeller on the Great Lakes, was rebuilt and renamed Milwaukee in 1846.

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