Quotes:Taylor, Robert

Zirkoff, Boris

Taylor, Robert (1784-1822). English Biblical critic; b. in Middlesex, Aug. 18, 1784; d. Sept. 2, 1822; son of ironmonger; reared as ward of uncle in Shropshire and articled to the house surgeon of Birmingham Gen. Hospital. Studied at Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, 1805. Member of Coll. of Surgeons, 1807. Entered St. John's Coll., Cambridge; ordained. 1813. For five years Curate in Sussex. Converted to deism, left Church, lectured and wrote on deism. Went to Dublin as school assistant, discharged for religious views and arrested for blasphemy. Founded Society of Universal Benevolence, 1820, with Clerical Review as organ. Went to London and founded Christian Evidence Society. One year in prison, 1827, on blasphemy charge. Rich. Carlile, noted Rationalist publisher, came to his rescue. Again imprisoned, 1831, for two years. Married, 1833, but sued by another woman. Emigrated to France with wife, to escape further troubles. Practised surgery at Tours and died there. His studies convinced him that Christianity has its basis in a solar myth. Works: Diegesis: being a discovery of the origin, evidences, and early history of Christianity (written in prison), 1829. 2nd ed. Boston: J. Gilbert, 1832; also 1860, 1863.—*Syntagma of the evidences of the Christian religion. Being a vindication of the Manifesto of the Christian Evidence Society, against the assaults of the Christian Instruction Society, through their deputy, J.P.S., commonly reported to be Dr. John Pye Smith. London, 1828. 128 pp.— The Devil's Pulpit. With Autobiographical Memoir. London, 1831–32; also 1856, 1857.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 8, p. 476