[4] Taylor was a magistrate and prominent member of the Liverpool City Council.
In 1892 he was elected municipal representative of the large and populous Everton Ward, but in 1895 declined re-election due to business commitments.
The local Liberal Association selected Taylor as their candidate to succeed him.
Due to the war-time electoral truce, Taylor expected to be elected in a by-election unopposed.
Taylor hoped to receive endorsement from the Coalition government, but at the eleventh hour, that endorsement was given to a latecomer to the contest, who stood as a Coalition Liberal and was elected instead.