Edward Taylor

Beginnings… Born in Leicestershire, England Worked as a teacher in England before moving to America (Boston) in 1668 because of religious persecution.

Education, Career, and Family Entered Harvard in 1668 and graduated in Accepted a position as a pastor and physician in a church in Westfield Massachusetts and stayed there the rest of his life. Had many hardships during his first marriage—5 out of 8 children died in infancy. When his 1 st wife died, he remarried and had 5 or 6 more children.

Taylor the poet Wrote an enormous amount of poetry but only allowed two stanzas of one poem to be published during his lifetime. He thought his poetry was a form of worship, and therefore private. Did not want his poems published at all and made his family promise to not publish them. A great-grandson did not keep this promise.