Taranov (1759-1819) was the son of a poor noble from Kharkov. He earned the rank of lieutenant before retiring from military service in 1779. Beginning in 1784 he held a variety of appointed and elected posts in Tavrida, including provincial procurator and marshal of the nobility, and accumulated property valued at 150,000 rubles. His main estate and residence was at Bazarchik (near Simferopol’), where he was buried in his English garden.