He was born in Christchurch, the son of Liberal and prohibitionist mayor and MP Tommy Taylor and his wife, social reformer Elizabeth Taylor.
He was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School and Canterbury College, graduating in law (LLB).
He was active in the National Party and was Canterbury divisional chairman from 1946 to 1950.
In the 1978 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for public services.
He married twice; in 1934 in London to Hilda Esther Bower,[citation needed] and in 1939 to Gertrude Mary Duthie after his first wife died.