1. Edward Taylor 1642-1729

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

3. Education, Career, and Family Entered Harvard in 1668 and graduated in 1671. 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.

4. 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.