William M. (William Mackergo) Taylor

Born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, on October 23, 1829, William Mackergo Taylor studied at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh and began his ministry in Scotland before moving to Liverpool in the 1850s. He later settled in the United States and became pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle in New York City, where he built a strong reputation as a preacher and religious author.

Taylor wrote widely for readers who wanted thoughtful but accessible Christian books. His works include studies of Bible characters and lives, sermons, and devotional writing, often marked by a clear, conversational style that helped make serious religious ideas feel personal and immediate.

He died on February 6, 1895. Remembered as both a minister and a popular religious writer, he left behind a body of work that reflects the energy of nineteenth-century Protestant preaching while still aiming to speak simply to ordinary readers.