[1] A colonial Colonel in the Virginia Militia, he is better remembered as an ironmaster, horse breeder, racing enthusiast and father-in-law of United States Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lightfoot Lee.

[4] Tayloe was born in Richmond County at Old House, located along the Rappahannock River,[5] a mile west of Mount Airy.

[6] He was educated in England at Cambridge, and possibly Oxford, where he was associated with Thomas Hay, Viscount Dulppin, Paymaster of the Forces during the French and Indian War[7][8] and George Gordon, 3rd Earl of Aberdeen.

It was an effort to reduce warfare in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, where Iroquois warriors had been attacking local, less powerful tribes as well as intrepid colonists.

In 1748 he began building the mansion "Mount Airy," on a hilltop on the north bank of the Rappahannock River in Richmond County, in the Northern Neck of Virginia.

This was unusual, as suitable stone was generally not available in the coastal Tidewater region of Virginia, and skilled stonecutters were rare.

A large deposit of hard gray sandstone was found on the plantation, and it was quarried for the mansion's walls.

This style for Virginia colonial estates "proclaimed dominion over its land... a manorial entity intended for a long succession of eldest sons."

Mount Airy is the first dated example in this country of a broad center hall free of stairs which was used as a sitting room.

The front portico opens on a terrace, cut from the rolling lawn by a balustrade of red sandstone.

From the back of the house runs a green sunken bowling alley; one each side are beautiful trees and the gardens.

Airy he had created a band for guest entertainment, composed of house slaves, whom he had instructed in music.

During the American Revolution, Tayloe supplied the Virginia Navy with "Cannonball, Plant, and Pigg iron".

[5] He served in public office as a member of the county court and he sat on the Virginia Council of State.

After his daughter Rebecca married Francis Lightfoot Lee, Tayloe built the plantation house of Menokin in 1769 for his son-in-law.

In May 1767, Col Tayloe won the "50 Pistoles Purse" with his horse Traveller near Annapolis against: "Trial" owned by Bullen, "Regulus" Calvert, and "Ranger" (Dr. Hamilton).

In the spring of 1769, Capt Littleberry Hardyman again won the purse with "Mark Anthony," beating John Tayloe's "Nonpareil" and Nathaniel Wlthoe's "Fanny Murray."

In the fall of 1774, at Fredericksburg, John Tayloe's "Single Peeper" won the 50 Pound Purse, beating Benjamin Grymes' "Miss Spot," Walker Tailaferro's "Valiant," Spotswood's "Fearnaught," Charles Jones' "Regulus," Procter's "Jenny Bottom," Robert Slaughter's "Ariel", and Peter Presley' Thornton's "Ariel."

They had eleven children together, two of whom died in infancy; their only son was their tenth child, John Tayloe III.