Thomas Matthew Taylor was born in Clogher, co Tyrone on 12 May 1791. His grandfather, Thomas was the Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1750. He arrived in India on 21 March 1809 and was a cornet in the 5th Bengal Native Cavalry on 30 April 1811, and then attached to the Java Light Cavalry from 1814-16 which was commanded by Captain Oldfield, also from the 5th BLC. Thomas Taylor was promoted to lieutenant on 1 Sep 1818 during the 3rd Maharatta War. He was especially mentioned for gallantry in action against the Pindaris in May 1817. He was promoted to captain on 13 May 1825 but from Dec 1825 to Oct 1829 he was on furlough. From Jan 1831 he was on the staff as Military Secretary, until 1835 when he was Town and Fort Major at Fort William, then a Member of the Military Board from March 1837 to 1844. On 5 Aug 1839 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and given command of the 7th Bengal Light Cavalry, then CO of the 11th BLC in 1841. On 3 April 1844 he was posted back to the 5th BLC as Commanding Officer.
Between 1840 and 1844 he visited the Cape and went to New South Wales. After taking command at the 5th BLC he went on furlough from Feb 1845 to Dec 1849, and from March 1851 to Dec 1853. He transferred to the 3rd BLC in Nov 1853 but was posted to Peshawar. He was promoted to Colonel on 22 Aug 1855 and appointed Colonel of the 1st BLC the following year. He became Colonel of the 1st European Bengal Light Cavalry from 1858 to 1859. He was a lieutenant-general on 17 April 1863 and he reached the rank of General on 8 Feb 1870. General Taylor died on 2 Sep 1871 at Granville Hotel, Ramsgate.
