[1] He was born in Durham to builder Edward Tait and Jane Briggs.
He studied in Surrey to become a Wesleyan missionary, and spent ten years in Fiji.
Around 1871 he moved to New South Wales, and the following year was appointed a minister at Armidale.
In 1872 Prince Joseph Celua of Fiji came to Australia and was in Tait's care until he was enrolled at Newington College.
[2] A building society manager, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Argyle in 1885, but did not re-contest in 1887.