Edward Taylor was born at Limehouse, London, in 1878Q4, one of eleven surviving children of Archibald Taylor, a druggist’s assistant, and his wife Eleanor (Ellenor) Isabella (née Tagg).

He joined the Royal Navy on 18 August 1896 at Portsmouth, stating a date of birth of 8 January 1878.  He spent a year in the Reserves flagship, HMS ALEXANDRA, where he was rated Stoker 1st Class, and then eighteen months in various harbour roles in Portsmouth.  In November 1899 he joined the new protected cruiser HMS EUROPA, leaving Portsmouth in January 1900 to ferry a new crew to the Mediterranean second flagship, HMS RAMILLIES, and transporting the paid-off crew back to Portsmouth.  EUROPA was then tasked with taking out reliefs to the Australia station, returning to Portsmouth in September 1900.  From May 1901 to July 1904 he served in the sloop HMS BEAGLE, engaged in patrol duties around Africa and the South Atlantic. In November 1904 he was rated Leading Stoker.

He joined the submarine depot ship HMS THAMES in July 1905, and was promoted Stoker Petty Officer in July 1906. He then moved to depot ships MERCURY and BONAVENTURE over the next four years but it is not known which submarines he served in.  He then had two and a half years in HMS IMOGENE where he was promoted Chief Stoker in September 1912. From July 1913 to March 1914 he was in the minelayer HMS THETIS, before returning to submarine service at HMS DOLPHIN.  On 25 March 1914 he moved to HMS MAIDSTONE and was then placed on the books of HMS ADAMANT (for HMS E7) on 10 June 1915.  HMS E7 was first commissioned in March 1914, so it is likely that he joined her at DOLPHIN and stayed with her throughout.  E7 moved to Harwich with the Eighth Submarine Flotilla on the outbreak of war, and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight and subsequent operations. Chief Stoker Taylor was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in October 1914 for his contribution during this period.  At the end of May 1915, E7 sailed from Harwich in company with E2 and E12 for the Mediterranean, subsequently coming under the depot ship HMS ADAMANT.

HMS E7 completed one highly successful patrol in the Sea of Marmara during June/July 1915 for which her CO, Lt Cdr Archibald Cochrane was awarded the DSO, and several crew members earned DSMs. Whilst attempting to re-enter the Dardanelles on her next patrol, E7 became entangled in newly-laid anti-submarine nets off Nagara Point. On 4 September 1915, after many hours attempting to work free, Turkish/German attacks forced her to the surface where her crew were all taken prisoner and E7 was scuttled to avoid capture. 

His service record notes that he ‘died on 28 October 1916 from pernicious fever at Bilemedik, Bozanti, Turkey whilst a prisoner of war.’  He was buried locally, but re-interred after the war at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery. 

He left a widow, Elizabeth Ann (née Bannister), whom he had married in 1899 at Weymouth, and four children.