• Son of Robert Taylor, wright in Aberdeen, and Agnes Murdoch.
• Apprenticed to Alexander Gordon.
• 1724 – Joint Trades Clerk to the Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen.
• 1728 – Married Elizabeth Fyffe in Aberdeen on 30th April.
• 1768 – Resigned as Joint Trades Clerk & Assessor on 15th November.   At a meeting of the Convener Court there was lodged a letter from John Taylor, present Clerk to the Trades of Aberdeen, advising of his resignation with immediate effect. This was accepted by the Convener Court and George Donaldson, Deacon Convener moved that the court appoint a Clerk pro tempore in order that they might proceed to the appointment of a new clerk. Mr William Burnett, Advocate was accepted as Clerk until a new Clerk was appointed.
• 1769 – Died 19th September, in his 69th year.