Background
The son of William Talbot of Lichfield, by his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Stoughton of Whittington, Worcestershire, he was born at Stourton Castle, Staffordshire, around 1659.
The son of William Talbot of Lichfield, by his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Stoughton of Whittington, Worcestershire, he was born at Stourton Castle, Staffordshire, around 1659.
On 28 March 1674 he matriculated as a gentleman commoner from Oriel College, Oxford, and graduated Bachelor of Arts on 16 October 1677, and Master of Arts
On 23 June 1680. Talbot"s first preferment was the rectory of Burghfield, Berkshire (1682), a living in the gift of his kinsman, Charles Talbot, 12th Earl of Shrewsbury. The deanery of Worcester was vacant after the deprivation of George Hickes as a nonjuror, and Shrewsbury"s interest secured the appointment of Talbot in April 1691. Hickes drew up a protest (2 May) claiming a "legal right", which he affixed to the entrance to the choir of Worcester Cathedral.
John Tillotson then gave Talbot (8 June) a Lambeth degree of Doctor of Divinity
In 1699 Talbot succeeded John Hough as bishop of Oxford (consecrated 24 September), retaining his deanery in commendam.
He had been made Doctor of Divinity of Oxford on 8 August. In the debate in the House of Lords following the trial (1710) of Henry Sacheverell, he was one of four bishops who spoke for his condemnation.
On 23 April 1715 he was translated to the see of Salisbury, and resigned the deanery of Worcester. On the death of Nathaniel Crew Talbot was translated (12 October 1721) to the see of Durham.
There he became unpopular by promoting (February 1723) a bill empowering bishops to grant new mining leases without the consent of chapters.
The bill was emasculated in the House of Commons, but Talbot in course of time managed the chapter through prebendaries of his appointment. He incurred further unpopularity by advancing the fines on his own leases and commending the example to the chapter. His profuse expenditure kept him short of money.
Talbot died in Hanover Square, London, on 10 October 1730, and was buried on 14 October in Saint James"s, Westminster.
Talbot had two sisters, Frances Talbot and Catherine Talbot. His father was a descendant of Sir Gilbert Talbot and Elizabeth Knollys.
The sons included:
Charles Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot (c 1685 - 1737)
Venerable Edward Talbot (c 1693 - 1720), Archdeacon of Berkshire. Major-General Sherrington Talbot (c 1699 - ?), father of Sir Charles Henry Talbot, 1st Baronet (see Talbot Baronets).
Their daughter, Henrietta Maria, married Charles Trimnell, bishop of Winchester.