Creator
Joseph Taylor
Title
A System of English Grammar.
Coverage
Sheffield, England
Publisher
J. Montgomery
Date
1804
Subject
Taylor (fl. 1770–1814), a headmaster near Sheffield, was a verbose, impractical grammarian who sought “security for approbation.” Encumbered with footnotes, some in Latin, this book is marred by a subject-verb-agreement error in the opening sentence: “daily experiences evinces [read evince] what a great deal is still further requisite.” In 1814, Taylor suffered “a series of misfortunes.” According to a public notice to raise money for his wife and six children, Taylor had been reduced “to absolute want” stemming from “a severe affliction of mind” causing “utter imbecility.” The aftermath is lost to history.