Taylor, William Robert

Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations

Principal, University College (1945-1951)

Born in 1882 in Port Dover Ontario, W.R. Taylor's affiliation with the University of Toronto began in 1900 when he enrolled in an undergraduate program for Classical Studies. In his second year he switched to the Oriental Languages program and graduated in 1904 with first class honours. After a year of being a student missionary, Taylor returned to the University of Toronto in 1905 to study Theology in Knox College. He then graduated with his M.A. in 1908 and then served as an assistant minister at Victoria Presbyterian Chuch in West Toronto. During that time he worked on his thesis under Professor McCurdy entitled "The Originality of Hebrew Text of Ben Sira in the light of Vocabulary and the Versions." When McCurdy was not available, Taylor took up a position as special lecturer at University College in the school years from 1911-1914. At the end of 1914, when Professor McCurdy retired, Taylor was made both a full professor and head of the Department of Oriental Langauges.

http://dentistry.library.utoronto.ca/research/digital-vertical-file/biographies-s-z/Taylor.pdf

Winett, Frederick Victor, McCullough, Stewart W. A Brief History of the Department of Near Eastern Studies.