Robert Henry Taylor, 1920 - 1998

by Brian Stevenson
last updated August, 2026

R.H. Taylor prepared high-quality microscope slides during the 1990s. The majority of known slides are of diatoms, although other types of materials are known.

Little is yet known about Robert Taylor’s life. He was born on February 1, 1920. Taylor joined the Quekett Microscopical Club on December 10, 1970. The 1971 and 1974 list of QMC members gave his address as 12 South Way, North Bersted, Bognor Regis, Sussex. He died on September 1, 1998.

Figure 1. Microscope slides by R.H. Taylor. The majority of his known slides are of diatoms. Two mounts of arranged diatoms with green labels are shown here. He also prepared strews of mixed diatoms from various locations. An example of his less-common chemical crystal mounts is shown at the bottom, with white labels. From the author's collection, or adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet auction site.

Figure 2. Dry-mount of “diatomaceae arranged in a star pattern 29 various species”, prepared by R.H. Taylor in May, 1995 (see Figure 1). Imaged with a 3.5x objective lens, C-mounted digital SLR camera, and top-lighting, on a Leitz Ortholux II microscope.

Figure 3. Dry-mount of “various species from deposits in New Zealand & California”, prepared by R.H. Taylor in May, 1995 (see Figure 1). Imaged with a 3.5x objective lens, C-mounted digital SLR camera, and top-lighting, on a Leitz Ortholux II microscope.

Resources

Death record of Robert H. Taylor (1998) acquired through ancestry.com

Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1971) List of members

Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1974) List of members