Frank J. Taylor

Frank J. Taylor (March 15, 1884 – May 8, 1958) was an American politician from New York.

Life

Taylor was born on March 15, 1884, in the Lower West Side of Manhattan, of Irish-American parentage. His father was Frank J. Barrett. Both of his parents died when he was young, and he was adopted by James and Jane Taylor. He took on their surname. When he was 10, he moved to Brooklyn.

Taylor grew up in Red Hook. He left school when he was 12 and began working as a grocer's helper. He then worked at Robins Dry Dock and Repair Company in Erie Basin as a passer-boy, where he tossed rivets from the fire to the riveter. He rose to be the right-hand man of William H. Todd when the latter became owner of a chain of shipyards. 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925. In 1925, he was elected Sheriff of Kings County. He served as sheriff from 1926 to 1927. In 1928, he was appointed Commissioner of Records.

In 1930, Taylor was appointed Commissioner of Public Welfare for New York City. He served as Commissioner from 1930 to 1934, during the Great Depression. He established a municipal employment bureau, helped expedite the processing of old-age assistance, and set up the home relief system. In 1933, became chairman of the new city work and relief administration. Homer Folks and Harry Hopkins praised his efforts as Welfare Commissioner. He resigned in 1934, when Fiorello La Guardia became mayor of New York City, and worked for Todd Shipyards as assistant to the president.

In 1909, Taylor married Gertrude M. Carmody. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.