 His parents' and grandfathers' families had come from the notorious Highland clan MacKenzie of Glencoe, and the family began trading as far north as Iceland in the early 17th century.Taylor was made an MP in 1805 and Deputy First Lord of the Admiralty in 1807.He moved to London after he took over as First Lord of the Admiralty in 1812, and served as Second Secretary to the Prime Minister from 1819 to 1823.