TAYLOR (Dr. Jeremy), bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland, was the son of a barber at Cambridge, and there had his education. Upon entering into orders, he became divinity-lecturer of St. Paul's in London; and was, by the interest of archbishop Laud, elected fellow of All-souls college, Cambridge, in 1636. Two years after he became one of the chaplains of the archbishop, who bestowed on him the rectory of Uppingham in Rutlandshire. In 1642, he was chaplain to the king; and a frequent preacher before him and the court at Oxford. He afterward attended in the king's army in the condition of a chaplain. Upon the declining of his majesty's cause, he retired into Wales, where he was permitted to officiate as minister, and to keep a school, in order to maintain himself and his children. In this retirement he wrote several of his works. Having spent several years there, his family was visited with sickness; and he lost three sons of great hopes, within the space of two or three months. This affliction touched him so sensibly, that it made him desirous to leave the country; and, going to London, he for a time officiated in a private congregation of loyalists to his great hazard. At length meeting with Edward lord Conway, that nobleman carried him over with him into Ireland, and settled him at Portmore, where he wrote his Ductor Dubitanium. Upon the restoration he returned to England: soon after, he was advanced to the bishopric of Down and Connor in Ireland; and had the administration of the see of Dromore granted to him. He was likewise made privy-counsellor, and vice-chancellor of the university of Dublin, which place he held
till his death. He died of a fever at Lifnegarvy in 1667, and was interred in a chapel of his own erecting on the ruins of the old cathedral of Dromore.