 bayard taylor (january 11, 1825 â december 19, 1878) was an american poet, literary critic, translator, and travel author. ==life and work== taylor was born on january 11, 1825,nelson, randy f. the almanac of american letters. los altos, california: william kaufmann, inc., 1981: 38. isbn 0-86576-008-x in kennett square in chester county, pennsylvania. he was the fourth son, the first to live to maturity, of the quaker couple, joseph and rebecca (nÃ©e way) taylor.wermuth, paul charles. bayard taylor. twayne publishers, 1973: 13. isbn 0-8057-0718-2 his father was a well-to-do farmer. young bayard received his early instruction in an academy at west chester, and later at unionville. at the age of seventeen, he was apprenticed to a printer in west chester. this cites smyth (1896) and howells (1901). his interest in poetry was coached by the influential critic and editor rufus wilmot griswold, who encouraged him to write a volume of poetry. published at philadelphia in 1844, ximena, or the battle of the sierra morena, and other poems was dedicated to griswold.bayless, joy. rufus wilmot griswold: poe's literary executor. nashville: vanderbilt university press, 1943. p. 128 it made little income, but indirectly was a means of his introduction to the new york tribune. with the money from his poetry and an advance for some journalistic work to be done in europe, taylor set sail for europe. the young poet spent a happy time in roaming on foot through certain districts of england, france, germany and italy; this tour of almost two years cost him only Â£100. the accounts which he sent from europe to the new york tribune, the saturday evening post, and the united states gazette were so highly appreciated that on taylor's return to america, he was advised to compile his articles into book form. in 1846, he published views afoot, or europe seen with knapsack and staff (2 vols, new york). this book's success brought taylor recognition as an author. he was asked to serve as an editorial assistant for graham's magazine for a few months in 1848.oberholtzer, ellis paxson. the literary history of philadelphia. philadelphia: george w. jacobs & co., 1906: 273. isbn 1-932109-45-5. that same year, horace greeley, then editor of the tribune, placed taylor on his staff, thus securing taylor a certain if moderate income. his next journey, made when th
1825_births 1878_deaths 19th-century_American_diplomats 19th-century_American_novelists 19th-century_American_poets 19th-century_journalists Ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Germany American_literary_critics American_male_novelists American_male_poets American_travel_writers Holy_Land_travellers Lecturers People_from_Chester_County,_Pennsylvania