George William Taylor was born on November 22, 1808. He graduated from the military academy of Alden Partridge, Middletown, Connecticut, and received a midshipman's warrant in the navy in 1827. He resigned at the end of four years and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In the beginning of the Mexican war he assisted in raising a company in New Jersey, being commissioned as lieutenant on 8 March, 1847. The following September he earned the rank of captain and served through-General Zachary Taylor's campaigns.

After the war he went to California, remaining there for three years. He returned to New Jersey and worked in mining and iron-manufacturing. When the civil war began he was made colonel of the 3d New Jersey infantry, which left for the field on 28 June, 1861, assisted in guarding Long Bridge, formed part of the reserve division at Bull Run, and participated in the occupation of Manassas in March, 1862, being the first to perceive the enemy retreating.

When Gen. Philip Kearny was promoted, Colonel Taylor succeeded to the command of the brigade, which he led in the advance on Richmond and the Seven Days' battles, receiving his commission as brigadier-general of the Jersey volunteers on 9 May, 1862. At Gaines's Mills his command was subjected to the hottest fire.

On the night of August 27, 1862, sketchy telegrams of the enemy strike at Bristoe and advance toward Manassas Junction had reached Washington. It was assumed that it was a raiding party of Stuart's cavalry, since he had just made a similar raid a few days before on Pope's headquarters at Catlett's Station. The Union high command directed Colonel Herman Haupt, chief of military railroads, to send any force he found available via rail to drive away the raiders.

At about 3:00 a.m., Brigadier General George Taylor received Haupt's orders and his brigade, composed of the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th New Jersey Infantry, soon boarded rail cars at California Station, just outside of Alexandria, and was rolling toward Manassas.  At about 11:00 a.m., Brig. General Taylor was hit by a rebel bullet and mortally wounded. 

George William Taylor died from complications of the amputation of his wounded leg in Alexandria, Virginia on September 1, 1862.

Sources: 

Stonewall's Manassas Return by L. VanLoan Naisawald

America's Civil War, November 2002

Virtual American Biographies - George William Taylor

http://www.famousamericans.net/georgewilliamtaylor/