Sir John James Taylor De Facto Ruler of Ireland chronicles the incredible story of the author’s great-grand-uncle, Sir John James Taylor, Assistant Under-Secretary of Ireland, who was the de facto ruler of Ireland from 1918 to 1920. It is the story of a commoner, born in Umballa, India, who joins the British Civil Service as a young teenager in 1877 and rises through the civil service ranks while in Ireland to a position of influence during the Anglo-Irish War of Independence. The story of the Irish Easter Rebellion, Anglo-Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War is experienced through the exploits of the Taylor and Hynes families in Ireland who lived through those troubled times. Sir John James Taylor’s younger sister Mary Taylor married into the Hynes family in 1880 and had five sons who all served in the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.). The R.I.C. was targeted by the Irish Republican Army during the Anglo-Irish War of Independence as was Sir John James Taylor and his immediate family.

Rich in historical detail, Sir John James Taylor - De facto Ruler of Ireland provides an intimate portrayal of life in Ireland and particularly in Dublin, leading up to the creation of the Free State of Ireland in late 1922. It provides key insights into the mindset of Sir John James Taylor, a commoner, who played a key role in the administration of the Irish Government in Dublin Castle during the troubled times of 1918 through 1920. When Taylor was presented with an opportunity to impact the course of Irish history, he took action even under the threat of assassination and death.