John Talbot, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury

John Talbot, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, 16th Earl of Waterford (18 March 1791 – 9 November 1852) was a British peer and aristocrat. Sometimes known as "Good Earl John", he has been described as "the most prominent British Catholic of his day", although he was the last Earl of Shrewsbury to follow the Catholic faith. John was also Lord High Steward of Ireland, an office the Earls of Shrewsbury have held since 1446. son of John Joseph Talbot and Catherine Talbot (Nee Clifton). He inherited his titles in 1827 from his paternal uncle, Charles Talbot, 15th Earl of Shrewsbury. and commissioned noted Gothic revival architect Augustus Pugin to work at the Towers.

John is remembered as "Good Earl John" John and his wife are buried in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, the church John built adjacent to Alton Castle. (the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 had been passed less than a decade earlier). Mary was created "Prinzessin von Bayern" (a Princess of Bavaria) by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. Lady Gwendoline Catherine Talbot; born 3 December 1817 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Lady Gwendoline was described by King William IV as the "greatest beauty in the realm". She also married an Italian Prince: Prince Marcantonio Borghese, 8th Prince of Sulmona. The pair married on 11 May 1835 in Rome. Gwendoline died of scarlet fever in Rome, 27 October 1840, aged only 22. Gwendoline and Marcantonio had four children. Their three sons all died of measles shortly after Gwendoline's death. Their daughter, Agnese, married Prince Rodolfo Boncompagni Ludovisi (Head of a former Sovereign House) to become Princess of Piombino and Duchess of Sora.