Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 55.djvu/344

 brother of Admiral Sir [q. v.], was born at Malahide in 1771. He entered the army on 24 May 1783 as an ensign in the 66th foot, became lieutenant on 27 Sept. 1783, and was on half-pay from 1784 to 1787, when he was gazetted to the 24th foot. On 21 Nov. 1793 he was promoted captain in the 85th foot, ordered to Canada, and attached to the staff of [q. v.], who had just entered on the government of Upper Canada. He became major on 6 March 1794 and lieutenant-colonel of the 5th foot on 12 Jan. 1796.

Enthusiastic by temperament, he threw himself into Simcoe's plans for developing the territory of Upper Canada; and on 25 Dec. 1800 he sold his commission and obtained a grant of five thousand acres for the purpose of a settlement on the northern shore of lake Erie, about 150 miles from Simcoe's new capital (now Toronto). In 1802 he commenced his settlement in this position, naming it Port Talbot. In a few years he conceived a larger scheme which was to be supported by free grants of land from the government, and, after a visit to England to obtain colonists, extended his settlement in 1809, receiving from the government grants of two hundred acres for every fifty definitely settled. In 1810 the first settlement began to make way, and in 1812 he commenced another on the same principles. From that time his progress was continuous, until twenty-eight townships had been settled by him, and Talbot Street became the main artery along the northern side of Lake Erie. Several Canadians of some note were natives of these settlements. For a long time 21 May was celebrated in Port Talbot as ‘Founder's Day.’

During 1812–14, Talbot commanded the militia of the district in the war with the United States. Subsequently he became a member of the legislative council. Mrs. Jameson saw him in 1837 at his house, which he called Castle Malahide, and gives a favourable picture of his eccentricities. In his eightieth year he paid a twelve-months' visit to England. He died at Port Talbot on 6 Feb. 1853.



TALBOT, WILLIAM (d. 1633), first baronet, Irish politician, was son of Robert Talbot of Carton, co. Kildare, and grandson of Sir Thomas Talbot of Malahide, co. Dublin. He was educated for the law, and subsequently attained to a leading position as a lawyer in Dublin. About 1603 he was appointed recorder of Dublin, but, being a staunch Roman catholic, he was soon afterwards removed for recusancy. On 13 April 1613 he was returned to the Irish parliament for co. Kildare, and he at once became the 'legal oracle of the catholic party in the Irish House of Commons' ). (Sir) [q. v.] complained to the home government that Talbot had abetted the return to parliament for Dublin 'of two of the most Spanish and seditious schismatiques in all the city' (Cal. State Papers, Ireland, 1611-14, p. 350). During the disorderly scenes which marked the election of a speaker in the Irish House of Commons [see ; ;, 1559-1630], Talbot urged that the house should first purge itself of such members as had been elected by illegal means. On 30 May he was appointed by the house one of the deputies to represent to James I the corrupt practices employed in the elections to secure a protestant majority, and the arbitrary treatment of the Anglo-Irish catholics. He crossed to England in July, and was examined by the privy council on his conduct in the Irish House of Commons. During the discussion of this question Archbishop Abbot demanded Talbot's opinion on a book (probably the 'Defensio Fidei Catholicae') in which the Jesuit Suarez openly maintained the right of catholics to kill an heretical king. Talbot hesitated to express abhorrence of this doctrine, but was ready to acknowledge James I as lawful king. The council was not satisfied, and on 17 July Talbot was committed to the Tower. On 13 Nov. following the Star-chamber sentenced him to a fine of 10,000l. Early in the following year, however, Talbot was allowed to return to Ireland, and probably the fine was remitted. James I, on releasing him, disclaimed any intention of forcing the Irish catholics to change their religion (Cal. State Papers, Ireland, 1611-14, p. 542). From this time Talbot became a supporter of the government, but took little part in politics. On 4 Feb. 1621-2 he was created a baronet, and he subsequently received various grants of land (, Cal. Pat. Rolls, Charles I, pp. 346, 438). He died on 16 March 1632-3.

By his wife Alison, daughter of John Netterville of Castleton, co. Meath, Talbot had issue eight sons and eight daughters. The eldest son, Robert, succeeded as second baronet, and from his daughter Frances, who married Richard Talbot of Malahide, de-