Robert Walker Tayler Sr.

Robert Walker Tayler
9th Ohio State Auditor
In office January 9, 1860 – April 1863
Preceded by	Francis Mastin Wright
Succeeded by	Oviatt Cole
First Comptroller of the Treasury
In office January 14, 1863 – February 25, 1878
Preceded by	Elisha Whittlesey
Succeeded by	Albert G. Porter
Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio
In office 1851–1852
Preceded by	John Heiner
Succeeded by	Stephen F. Burnett
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 23rd district
In office January 7, 1856 – January 1, 1860
Preceded by	Ira Norris
Succeeded by	Jacob Dolson Cox
Personal details
Born	(1812-11-09)November 9, 1812 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 25, 1878(1878-02-25) (aged 65) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Louisa Woodbridge Rachel Kirtland Wick
Children	14

Robert Walker Tayler Sr. (November 9, 1812 – February 25, 1878) was a Republican politician in the U.S. State of Ohio who was a member of the Ohio Senate and was Ohio State Auditor 1860–1863.

Robert Tayler was born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was moved to Youngstown, Ohio as an infant. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Trumbull County. In 1839, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Trumbull County, serving four years. He then moved back to Youngstown. In 1851, he was elected Mayor of Youngstown.

In 1855 and 1857, Tayler was elected to represent the 23rd district in the Ohio Senate for the 52nd and 53rd General Assemblies (1856–1859). In 1859, he defeated Democrat Godwin Volney Dorsey for Ohio State Auditor, taking office in 1860. He resigned when, in 1863, he was appointed First Comptroller of the United States Treasury by President Lincoln. He held that office 15 years, and was known as the "watch-dog of the Treasury". He died in Washington in 1878.

Tayler's first wife was Louisa Woodbridge, sister of Timothy, and they had seven children, including Robert Walker Tayler, a federal judge and Congressman. Tayler's second wife was Rachel Kirtland Wick, daughter of Caleb Wick. They had seven children, including Wick Tayler of the Ohio House of Representatives.

References

• Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company.
• Ohio General Assembly (1917). Manual of legislative practice in the General Assembly. State of Ohio.
• Upton, Harriet Taylor (1910). Cutler, Harry Gardner (ed.). History of the Western Reserve. Vol. 1. New York: The Lewis Publishing Company. p. 11.
• Poore, Benjamin Perley (1878). The political register and congressional directory: a statistical record of the Federal Officials...1776-1878. Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Company. p. 226.