Draft:James Langhorne Tayloe

James Langhorne Tayloe
Born	(1841-01-15)January 15, 1841 Buena Vista (Roanoke, Virginia),Roanoke, Virginia
Died	March 9, 1862(1862-03-09) (aged 23) Norfolk Naval Hospital
Nationality	American
Occupation	Military Officer
Known for	Lt. Confederate States Navy
Parent(s)	George Plater Tayloe, Mary Elizabeth Langhorne
Relatives	John Tayloe III (grandfather), Henry Scarsbrook Langhorne (great uncle), Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor (2nd cousin)

Lt. James Langhorne Tayloe, CSN was a midshipman in the United States Navy, resigning his commission when hostilities broke out between the Union and Confederacy, after joining the Confederate States Navy where he reached the rank of Lieutenant. He was born at Buena Vista (Roanoke, Virginia) the estate of his father George Plater Tayloe and mother Mary Elizabeth Langhorne, having previously been owned by his maternal grandfather Colonel William Langhorne, then known as "Roanoke Plantation". Tayloe studied at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia; after matriculating to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the hometown of his grandmother's family, the Ogles and Ogle Hall.

Early Life

Tayloe was born the 5th child and 3rd son at the home of his father George P. Tayloe, Buena Vista, in Roanoke, Virginia; his mother was Mary Elizabeth Langhorne, was related to Sir William Langhorne, 1st Baronet. Her father, Col. William Langhorne, traded with her husband Cloverdate Furnace & Plantation, a Tayloe Family Iron Furnace purchased proceeding the closure of the Bristol Iron Works and Neabsco Iron Works on the Virginia Coast, which his great great grandfather John Tayloe I and great grandfather John Tayloe II of Mount Airy founded, respectively. James’ father, a son of John Tayloe III of The Octagon House, was of the generation m of Tayloe's who pioneered the Canebrake (region of Alabama) moving enslaved laborers from Mount Airy to that region and establishing close to 20 plantations. He matriculated to Episcopal High School in 1850 and graduated in 1855, that same year he accepted a commission to the United States Naval Academy and appointed an Acting Midshipman on probation. He graduated from the Naval Academy June 15, 1860, and was warranted as a Midshipman.

Military Career

On July 24, 1860, he was ordered to the USS Susquehanna, Mediterranean Squadron, to report on the 15th of August. He resigned his commission on July 5, 1861 and was dismissed. He enter the Confederate States Navy on July, 8th of that same year as a Midshipman and was first assigned to the CSS Fanny. On September 24, 1861, he was brevetted to Master.

CSS FANNY

At the naval Battle of Roanoke Island he was conspicuous for skill and courage. At the Battle of Elizabeth City he fought his vessel to the last and then left her in flames, escaping as by miracle from the perils by which he was surrounded. For these distinguished exhibitions of valor and good conduct he was again promoted to the grade he held at the time of his untimely death. Two brevets within six months constitute in themselves most eloquent attestations of his skill and gallantry as an officer. It was in the last chapter of his short, brave life that these qualities were conspicuously displayed.