Edward Bickmore Ellison Taylor (1 June 1906 – 5 May 1982), also known as E. B. E. Taylor, was a New Zealand lawyer, politician and diplomat. He was New Zealand Ambassador to Japan from 1961 to 1965. He was born in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

, the son of Liberal and prohibitionist

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

and MP

Tommy Taylor Thomas Taylor (29 January 1932 – 6 February 1958) was an English footballer, who was known for his aerial ability. He was one of the eight Manchester United players who died in the Munich air disaster. Career Taylor was born in Smithies, ...

and his wife, social reformer

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...

. He was educated at

Christchurch Boys' High School , motto_translation = I Seek Higher Things , type = State school, Day and Boarding school , gender = Boys , song = The School We Magnify , colours = Blue and Black , established = , address = 71 Straven R ...

and

Canterbury College Canterbury College may refer to: * Canterbury College (Indiana), U.S. * Canterbury College (Waterford), Queensland, Australia * Canterbury College (Windsor, Ontario), Canada * Canterbury College, Kent, England * Canterbury College, Oxford, England ...

, graduating in law (LLB). Between 1935 and 1961, he practised law in

Greymouth Greymouth () (Māori: ''Māwhera'') is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coas ...

Taumarunui Taumarunui is a small town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on an alluvial plain set within rugged terrain on the upper reaches of the Whanganui River, 65 km south of Te Kuiti and 55 km west of ...

and Christchurch. He was the Christchurch coroner for 26 years from 1952 to 1978 (except while he was in Japan). He was active in the National Party and was Canterbury divisional chairman from 1946 to 1950. He was the National candidate for in and in and . Taylor was on the

Canterbury University The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was f ...

Council (then Canterbury College) from 1950 to 1961 and served as pro-chancellor in 1960 and 1961. He was a member of

Christchurch City Council The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since October 2022, the Mayor of Christchurch is Phil Mauger, who ...

from the 1968 local election for one three-year term and was defeated at the 1971 local elections when he stood for re-election. He was president of the Canterbury District Law Society in 1959. In the

1978 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1978 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginn ...

, he was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

, for public services. He was described by

Gustafson A derivative of the name Gustav, Gustafson, Gustafsson, Gustavson, or Gustavsson, is a group of fairly common surnames of Scandinavian origin, and may refer to any of the following people: Gustafson *Andy Gustafson, American collegiate football ...

as "a delightful extrovert and raconteur." He married twice; in 1934 in London to Hilda Esther Bower, and in 1939 to Gertrude Mary Duthie after his first wife died.

References

*Obituary in ''The Press'' (Christchurch) of 6 May 1982 {{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Ted 1906 births 1982 deaths 20th-century New Zealand lawyers Christchurch City Councillors Unsuccessful candidates in the 1938 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1943 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1946 New Zealand general election Candidates in the 1941 New Zealand general election New Zealand National Party politicians People educated at Christchurch Boys' High School University of Canterbury alumni Ambassadors of New Zealand to Japan New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire