John Tayloe II

Colonel John Tayloe II (28 May 172118 April 1779) was the premier Virginia planter; a politician, and colonial Colonel in the Virginia Militia. Virginia. He served in public office including the Virginia Governor's Council, also known as the Virginia Council of State. He has been described as a "model Virginia planter, planting tobacco, wheat and corn and raising livestock", what were known as mixed crops. A fifth-generation planter from the Tayloe Family, he took over the management of the Neabsco Iron Works during the 1740s, likely after his father's death in 1747. Later Tayloe built Mount Airy, the Neo-Palladian villa overlooking the Rappahannock River. It is still held and occupied by the Tayloe family in the 21st century. Tayloe, his father and namesake son were said to exemplify gentry entrepreneurship. Early years Tayloe was born in Richmond County at Old House, located along the Rappahannock River, a mile west of Mount Airy. The latter plantation had been purchased by his grandfather, who called it 'Tayloe's Quarter'.