Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) was born in Cambridge, the son of a barber. Educated at Gonville and Caius College, his sermons drew Laud's attention, and he was sent to All Souls, Oxford. Chaplain to Laud and Charles I, he became rector of Uppingham in 1638. After his arrest as a royalist in 1645, he retired to Golden Grove, Carmarthenshire, and wrote most of his important works there. After the Restoration he was made Bishop of Down and Connor and later of Dromore. He died in Lisburn.