Taylor v Laird (1856) is an English contract law case that dealt with the issue of frustration of contract.
In this case, the plaintiff, Taylor, was a seaman employed by the defendant, Laird, as the captain of his ship. While the ship was at sea, Laird fell seriously ill, and Taylor assumed command of the ship. Laird subsequently recovered, but when he returned to the ship, he took command back from Taylor and refused to pay him his salary. Taylor sued Laird for breach of contract.
The court held that Laird was not liable for breach of contract, as the contract had been frustrated by the illness of Laird. The court held that when a contract is frustrated, it is no longer possible to perform the contract as it was originally intended. The court stated that frustration occurs when an event occurs after the formation of the contract that makes it impossible to perform the contract, or makes performance of the contract radically different from what was originally intended.
The case of Taylor v Laird is an important case in the law of contract as it established the principle of frustration of contract. The case confirmed that frustration occurs when an event occurs after the formation of the contract that makes it impossible to perform the contract, and that in such cases, the parties are discharged from their obligations under the contract.