[1] Born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1806, daughter of William Scarbrough and Julia (née Bernard), Taylor was educated at Madam Binze's School in New York, after which she made a tour of Europe.

[2] On her return to Georgia in 1829, she married James Taylor, a wealthy merchant,[2][3] with whom she had two daughters and one son, lived in Savannah as a person of means, raised the family and became involved in social affairs, scientific studies and writing.

Just before the start of the American Civil War, Taylor went to England to write a book about plantation life, but died of tuberculosis on the Isle of Man in 1861.

Taylor used powerful magnifying glasses to study insects and illustrated her articles with intricate drawings, in which endeavour she was assisted by her daughters.

This work may not have been recognized due to the fact that she published in popular magazines and wrote in entertaining literary style.