[2][note 1] The design had been for troop transports until signing of the armistice ending World War I made completion as civilian passenger and cargo ships desirable.

[8] The ship was allocated and delivered 7 March 1921 to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company for operation from San Francisco to Honolulu, Manila, Saigon, Singapore, Calcutta and return.

[14] During that operation, possibly due to loss of an anchor while landing troops and equipment by means of shallow draft craft from outside the lagoon, the ship became firmly grounded on the coral reef.

[6][1] The grounded ship was unloaded under difficult conditions, and salvage attempts made with first USCG Cutter Taney and fleet tug Seminole dispatched, later joined by fleet tug Navajo and by repair ship Argonne on 12 April 1942 with salvage expert LCDR Curtiss being flown to the island.

No progress had been made by 24 February 1942, and Robin was sent towing a large and three small lighters to assist in unloading with arrival noted on 5 March 1942 along with an estimate of three weeks to re-float Taylor.

[13] On 9 March 1953 the remains of the ship were sold to North Coast Corporation for $5,220 with the requirement the hull be scrapped on or before 6 April 1955.