Peter Talbot

Peter Talbot (29 June 1618 – 15 November 1680) was an Irish Roman Catholic religious leader who served as Archbishop of Dublin from 1669 until his death in prison in 1680. He was a victim of the Popish Plot.

Early life Talbot was born at Malahide on 29 June 1618 to Sir William Talbot and his wife Alison . In May 1635, he entered the Society of Jesus in Portugal. He was ordained a priest at Rome on either 6 April 1647 Both prelates considered that they were asserting the rights of their respective sees, and each published a treatise on the subject. Another meeting of the Catholic gentry was convened by Talbot, at which it was resolved to send to the Court at London a representative who would seek redress for some of the grievances to which the Catholics of Ireland were subjected. This alarmed the Protestants in Ireland, who feared that the balance of power might shift to the Catholic majority. They protested to King Charles, and in 1673 some of the repressive measures against Irish Catholics were reinstated, and Talbot was compelled to seek safety in exile.

On 8 October 1678, Ormond signed a warrant for Talbot's arrest. He was arrested at Cartown near Maynooth at the house of his brother, Colonel Richard Talbot, and was then moved to Dublin Castle.

For two years Talbot remained in prison without trial, where he fell ill. Despite their long friendship, Charles II, fearful of the political repercussions, made no effort to save him. Talbot was held in an adjoining cell to Oliver Plunkett. The two archbishops reconciled as fellow prisoners, setting aside their disagreements as expressed in their treatises.

From his prison cell, Talbot had written on 12 April 1679, petitioning that a priest be allowed to visit him, as he was bedridden for months and was now in imminent danger of death. The petition was refused, but Plunkett, on hearing of Talbot's dying condition, forced his way through the warders and administered to the dying prelate the last consolations of the sacraments. Talbot died in prison on 15 November 1680.

Legacy Talbot is said to have been interred in the churchyard of St. Audoen's Church, close by the tomb of Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester.