John Baxter Taylor Jr.
Full Name
John Baxter Taylor Jr.
Date of Birth
November 3, 1882
Place of Birth
Date of Death
December 2, 1908
Place of Death
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Education
- Attended Central High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Attended Brown Preparatory School in Rhode Island
- Enrolled in the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in fall 1903
- Transferred to and graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in June 1908
Spouses Names
Not available
Children Names
Not available
Parents Names
- Father: John Baxter Taylor
- Mother: Sarah Thomas Taylor
Known Affiliates Names
- Nathaniel John Cartmell (Fellow Penn grad and Olympic teammate)
- Melvin Sheppard (Philadelphian and Olympic teammate)
- William F. Hamilton (Olympic teammate)
Affiliated Organizations’ Names
- Member of the University of Pennsylvania varsity track team
- Member of the gold medal-winning men’s medley relay team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London
John Baxter Taylor Jr. was a pioneering African American athlete and the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal. Born in Washington, D.C., Taylor moved to Philadelphia with his family, where he showcased his athletic talents in high school and later at Brown Preparatory School. His exceptional performance in track and field continued at the University of Pennsylvania, where he became a celebrated quarter-miler. Taylor’s athletic prowess was internationally recognized at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where he was a key member of the United States’ 1600-meter medley relay team. Despite the controversy surrounding the 400-meter race, Taylor’s contribution to the gold medal-winning relay team cemented his place in history as the first African American Olympic gold medalist. Tragically, Taylor’s promising career and life were cut short when he died of typhoid pneumonia in December 1908, just months after his Olympic triumph. His legacy as a trailblazer in athletics and as a symbol of excellence and perseverance continues to inspire