Hugh Taylor (1817–1900) was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament, a colliery owner with interests in the shipping industry.
His first career as a mariner was short-lived and he became a became a partner in a house of coal factors, in London; and, subsequently, in several very extensive collieries in the North of England, including Haswell, Ryhope, Backworth, Holywell near Seaton Delaval, and East and West Cramlington, as well as in many mines in South Wales.
In 1852, he successfully contested the borough of Tynemouth for the Conservative party, defeating Ralph Gray (the sitting Whig MP) by 12 votes.
He won the seat in 1859 but it seems his political sympathies were certainly leaning towards the Liberal Party, as he voted with them on a number of issues.
By 1869 Hudson was deeply in debt, in bad health and living in exile, so Taylor and Elliot started a subscription fund which they launched with donations of 100 Guineas each.