Bayard Taylor

Date of Birth: January 11, 1825

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: December 19, 1878

Biography

Bayard Taylor was an American poet, literary critic, translator, travel author, and diplomat. Born on January 11, 1825, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Taylor’s literary career began at an early age. He is renowned for his extensive travels, which provided the material for many of his books. Taylor’s works often reflect his journeys through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, offering vivid and engaging descriptions of the cultures and landscapes he encountered. In addition to his travel writing, Taylor was a respected poet and translator. He translated Goethe’s “Faust,” which remains one of the most esteemed English versions of the German classic. Taylor’s diplomatic career saw him serving as the U.S. Minister to Germany, where he further established his reputation as a significant cultural figure. Taylor’s literary output was vast and varied, encompassing poetry, fiction, essays, and reportage. His work was celebrated for its lyrical quality, vivid imagery, and deep empathy for the people and places he described. Despite his relatively short life, Bayard Taylor left an indelible mark on American literature and remains a celebrated figure in the realms of journalism and travel writing.

5 Interesting Facts about Bayard Taylor

1. Bayard Taylor undertook his first significant travel journey at the age of 20, traveling through Europe on a shoestring budget.

2. He published his first book, “Views Afoot, or Europe seen with Knapsack and Staff,” in 1846, which detailed his European adventures.

3. Taylor served as the U.S. Minister to Germany from 1878 until his death later that year.

4. He was a prominent member of the literary circle known as the “Knickerbocker Group,” which included Washington Irving and William Cullen Bryant.

5. Taylor’s translation of Goethe’s “Faust” is still considered one of the best English translations of the work.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bayard Taylor

1. “Fame is what you have taken, character is what you give. When to this truth you waken, then you begin to live.”

2. “The bravest are the most tender; the loving are the daring.”

3. “There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight.”

4. “Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is now—always.”

5. “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Bayard Taylor’s net worth is not well-documented, but his highest net worth was estimated to be modest, consistent with the earnings of a successful 19th-century author and diplomat.