Born about 1878 he was educated at University College Hospital and qualified in 1899, while living at Bethersden, Kent. Intending to enter the Public Health service he took the Diploma in Public Health in 1901 and was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple. He served as Deputy Medical Officer of Health for the East London Borough of Bethnal Green. He had been senior resident medical officer at the Royal National Hospital for Consumption at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, but during the first world war served in the RAMC with the rank of Captain. Taunton retired to St Leonard's-on-Sea, Sussex, living first at 141 London Road, and later at 26 Kenilworth Road, when he died on 7 January 1960, aged about 81.