Sir William Francis Kyffin Taylor, Baron Maenan

Sir William Francis Kyffin Taylor, G.B.E., K.C., 1st Baron Maenan (9 July 1854-22 September 1951), was a prominent English Barrister and Judge.

Kyffin Taylor was the son of the Venerable William Francis Taylor, Archdeacon of Liverpool. He was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, educated at Liverpool College and later attending Exeter College, Oxford. Two of his brothers were notable local politicians: Brigadier-General Gerald Kyffin-Taylor, M.P. for Kirkdale and Austin Kyffin Taylor, M.P. for East Toxteth.

His legal career was one of prestige, taking silk in 1895 and holding the office of Presiding Judge of the Court of Passage between 1903 and 1948. Other offices he held included Justice of the Peace for Shropshire, Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire, Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for Shropshire, Recorder of Bolton in 1901, Bencher of the Inner Temple in 1905, Judge of Appeal for the Isle of Man between 1918 and 1921,Vice-President of the War Compensation Court between 1920 and 1921, Treasurer of the Inner Temple in 1926. [http://thepeerage.com/p23774.htm]

In 1918 he was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) and later as a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.) in 1929. For his services to the judiciary he was created 1st Baron Maenan, of Ellesmere on 29 June 1948. [http://thepeerage.com/p23774.htm]

Lord Maenan died in September 1951 aged 98 only 3 years after he retired from the bench, making him one of the oldest serving judges in Great Britain. His title became extint on his death as he had no male heir.

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