Jane Taylor

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Jane Taylor (September 23, 1783−April 13, 1824), was an English poet and novelist. She wrote the words for the song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in 1806 at age 23, while living in Shilling Street, Lavenham, Suffolk.

The poem is now known world-wide, but its authorship is generally forgotten. It was first published under the title "The Star" in Rhymes for the Nursery, a collection of poems by Taylor and her older sister Ann (later Mrs. Gilbert). The sisters, and their authorship of various works, have often been confused, in part because their early works were published together.

Ann Taylor's son, Josiah Gilbert, wrote in her biography, 'two little poems–"My Mother," and "Twinkle, twinkle, little Star," are perhaps, more frequently quoted than any; the first, a lyric of life, was by Ann, the second, of nature, by Jane; and they illustrate this difference between the sisters.' See The Autobiography and Other Memorials of Mrs Gilbert, Formerly Ann Taylor, by Ann Taylor (1782-1866), edited by Josiah Gilbert. Henry S. King & Co. 65 Cornhill, London, 1874.

Original Poems for Infant Minds by several young persons (i.e. Ann and Jane and others) was first issued in two volumes in 1804 and 1805. Rhymes for the Nursery followed in 1806, and Hymns for Infant Minds in 1808. In Original Poems for Infant Minds (1805) primarily written by Ann and Jane Taylor and Adelaide O'Keeffe, the authors were identified for each poem. In Rhymes for the Nursery (1806) poems were not identified by author. Attributions for the sisters' poems can be found in an exceptional Taylor resource: The Taylors of Ongar: An Analytical Bio-Bibliography by Christina Duff Stewart, Garland Publishing, Inc., New York & London, 1975. Stewart identifies authorship of Rhymes for the Nursery, based on a copy belonging to Canon Isaac Taylor, which was annotated to indicate the respective authorship of Ann and Jane. Canon Isaac was the nephew of Jane and Ann; a son of their brother, Isaac Taylor of Stanford Rivers. Stewart also confirms attributions of Original Poems based on publisher's records.

The Taylor sisters were part of an extensive literary family. Born in London, Jane and her family later lived in Lavenham, Suffolk; Colchester, and Ongar. Their father, Isaac Taylor, was an engraver and later a dissenting minister. Their mother, Mrs. (Anne Martin) Taylor (1757-1830) wrote seven works of moral and religious advice, two of them fictionalized. Ann and Jane's brothers also wrote.

Jane's novel Display (1814) is reminiscent of Maria Edgeworth, or perhaps even Jane Austen. Her Essays in Rhyme appeared in 1816, and contained some significant poetry. In the fictional Correspondence between a mother and her daughter at school (1817) Jane collaborated with her mother. Throughout her life, Jane Taylor wrote essays plays, stories, poems, and letters, many of which were never published. She died from cancer while still young, her mind 'teeming with unfulfilled projects'.

After her death, her brother, Isaac Taylor, Jr., of Stanford Rivers, collected many of her works, with a biography of her, in The Writings of Jane Taylor, In Five Volumes: Boston: Perkins & Marvin, 1832. Volume I, Memoirs, Correspondence and Poetical Remains of Jane Taylor can be read online.

Given name: Jane; Family name: Taylor; Birth date: 23 September 1783; Death date: 13 April 1824 Nationality: English; Family relations; sister: Ann Taylor (poet); Cause of death: breast cancer; Buried at: Ongar churchyard.

Sources:

The Autobiography and Other Memorials of Mrs Gilbert, Formerly Ann Taylor, by Ann Taylor (1782-1866), edited by Josiah Gilbert. Henry S. King & Co. 65 Cornhill, London, 1874.

Memoirs, Correspondence and Poetical Remains of Jane Taylor Volume I of The Writings of Jane Taylor, In Five Volumes: Boston: Perkins & Marvin, 1832.

It is speculated that the character of Jane Taylor (Kipleigh Brown) in Star Trek: Enterprise, who suffered a tragic death at a young age in space, was named for this poet.