Honoring the Birth of Cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, The First African American International Champion in Any Sport!

November 26, 1878: We Honor the Birth of Cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, The First African American International Champion in Any Sport!

His grandparents were enslaved.  He was the son of Civil War veteran Gilbert Taylor and Saphronia Kelter. His parents migrated from Louisville, Kentucky taking their 8 children to live on a farm in rural Indiana. Taylor's father worked as a coachman for a wealthy family who had a son the same age. The two boys became close friends and at 8 years old, Taylor moved in with the Southards to further his education.

While living with the Southards four years, Taylor got his first bicycle as a gift. He loved that bike and became such an expert rider that the local bike shop owner hired him to attract clients to his shop. Dressed in a soldier’s uniform, Taylor performed bike stunts outside the shop, earning $6 a week, a new bike and the nickname "Major.”

He won his first amateur cycling race in 1891 at age 13. By 15 Taylor was so fast and powerful he set a cycling record in Indianapolis; but the event that should have been an achievement for a young teen was marred by racism when he was “hooted” and attacked by the crowd, then barred from racing at the Indianapolis track again.  

Despite the setback, Taylor’s skill caught the eye of a businessman named Louis Munger who helped Taylor relocate to Middletown, Connecticut before eventually settling in Worcester, Massachusetts, where his race did not hold him back as it had in Indianapolis.

Taylor moved up from amateur to professional rider in 1896 at the age of 18.  At a time when bicycle racing was booming, Taylor was known as the "most formidable racer in America.” One of his biggest supporters was President Theodore Roosevelt, who kept track of Taylor’s victories throughout his 17 year racing career.

Despite the setback, Taylor’s skill caught the eye of a businessman named Louis Munger who helped Taylor relocate to Middletown, Connecticut before eventually settling in Worcester, Massachusetts, where his race did not hold him back as it had in Indianapolis.

Taylor moved up from amateur to professional rider in 1896 at the age of 18.  At a time when bicycle racing was booming, Taylor was known as the "most formidable racer in America.” One of his biggest supporters was President Theodore Roosevelt, who kept track of Taylor’s victories throughout his 17 year racing career.

In 1902 Taylor toured Europe, entering 57 races … winning 40, defeating the champions of Germany, England and France.  He also competed in Australia and New Zealand, although due to religious convictions, he refused to race on Sundays.

An international celebrity, especially in France where cycling was king, Taylor's career was held back primarily by racism in the US.  There were times when he was barred from competing or his bikes would be vandalized.  Riders often ganged up on Taylor, boxing him in to keep him from winning. In one instance, Taylor was physically attacked on the track by another rider, in front of the crowd of spectators.

Despite the challenges, there were good times.  March 21, 1902, Taylor married Daisy Morris, of Worcester, Massachusetts. Two years later their daughter, Sydney was born while Taylor was racing in Australia.

By 1908 Taylor was still breaking records but the racial climate in the US limited his opportunities and the same social dynamics that set his cycling career in motion now held him back. Essentially, cycling was fading.

Taylor finally quit the track in 1910 at the age of 32.  He died in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood June 21, 1932, at the age of 53. It’s speculated he earned between $25,000 and $30,000 a year during the height of his career.  But by the time of his death, he’d lost most of his money to bad investments, illness, and the stock market crash.  He was initially buried in a pauper’s grave, but in 1948, a group of professional cyclists, with money donated by Schwinn Bicycle Company had Taylor’s body exhumed and reburied at a cemetery outside of Chicago. A monument to Taylor stands in front of the city Library in Worcester, Massachusetts, while in Indianapolis there is a Marshall Major Taylor Velodrome named in his honor. 

See video with images from the life of Marshall “Major” Taylor!