James Talbot

James Robert Talbot (28 June 1726 – 26 January 1790) was an English Catholic prelate who served as Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1781 until his death. He was the last Catholic priest to be indicted in the country's public courts for saying Mass.

Life Early life He was born at Shrewsbury House in Isleworth, Middlesex on 28 June 1726, the fourth son of the Honourable George Talbot and Mary FitzWilliam. James' eldest brother George succeeded his uncle as the 14th Earl of Shrewsbury in 1743, and his younger brother Thomas became Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District in 1778. After his baptism, he was confirmed by Bishop Bonaventure Giffard according to the custom of the time.

James was educated at Twyford School, then the English College, Douai. After his course in Philosophy, he and his brother Thomas Talbot made the grand tour under the tutelage of Alban Butler. They returned to Douai after over a year in 1748, and took up the course in Theology. James Talbot was ordained to the priesthood on 19 December 1750. He was then made a professor Philosophy, and two years later, Theology. On 9 June 1784, John Carroll was appointed and confirmed by Pope Pius VI as provisional "Superior of the Missions in the thirteen United States of North America", with faculties to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation.

He lived a retired life in Hammersmith, his charitable nature gaining for him the title of "the Good Bishop Talbot". His chief work during these years was the completion of the purchase of the property at Old Hall, Hertfordshire, where he had a preparatory academy which afterwards developed into St Edmund's College. The penal laws against Roman Catholic schools still existed, and Talbot was again threatened with imprisonment; but he contrived to evade punishment.

During the last years of his life the Catholic Committee was already threatening trouble. In order to control it, Bishop Talbot allowed himself to be elected a member; but it was soon evident that the laymen were beyond the control of the hierarchy. The crisis however had not yet arrived when in 1790 Talbot died at his house at Hammersmith.

Bishop Talbot was buried in the cemetery of the parish church in Hammersmith. In 1901 his body was moved to Mortuary Lane at Old Hall, which leads to the St. Edmund's College Chapel.

Legacy One of the houses at St. Edmund's College is named in honor of James Talbot.