Isaac Taylor (1787-1865), Writer and artist; eldest son of Ann and Isaac Taylor

Sitter in 2 portraits
Trained by his father to be an engraver, but adopting literature as a profession, he attracted little notice until 1829, when The Natural History of Enthusiasm, published anonymously, was a huge success. He followed this up with Fanaticism (1833), Spiritual Despotism (1835), Saturday Evening (1832) and The Physical Theory of Another Life (1836), all of which commanded a large circulation. He also wrote biographies of Ignatius Loyola (1849) and John Wesley (1851); a volume entitled The Restoration of Belief (1855); and a course of lectures on The Spirit of Hebrew Poetry (1861).