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",[1] although he was the last Earl of Shrewsbury to follow the Catholic faith.[2] John was also Lord High Steward of Ireland, an office the Earls of Shrewsbury have held since 1446.[2]
John was born on 18 March 1791;[3][4] son of John Joseph Talbot (9 June 1765 – 8 August 1815) and Catherine Talbot (Nee Clifton).[5] He inherited his titles in 1827 from his paternal uncle, Charles Talbot, 15th Earl of Shrewsbury.[3]
Alton Towers from across the ornamental lake
Among the estates he inherited from his uncle was the Talbot family's main home, Heythrop Park, which burned down in 1831. After the fire, John moved the family to another of his inherited estates, in Staffordshire. The house had originally been known as Alverton Lodge, and had been enlarged by the 15th Earl, who enclosed the park and started creating the formal valley gardens to create "Alton Abbey" (the name "Abbey" was chosen because it was fashionable -the site had no religious connections). John continued his uncle's work at Alton, developing and expanding the house and estate further; he renamed it Alton Towers.[3] John was a "patron of the Gothic revival"[6] and commissioned noted Gothic revival architect Augustus Pugin to work at the towers.[1]
In addition to the building work at Alton Towers, John set about rebuilding nearby Alton Castle. The castle occupies a rocky precipice above the River Churnet on the outskirts of the village of Alton, Staffordshire. On a site fortified since Saxon times, the 12th-century castle had fallen into ruins by the 19th century. John had most of the ruins demolished, engaging Pugin again to design a new gothic-revival castle, which was built to resemble a French or German medieval castle. It is unclear why the 16th Earl had the castle rebuilt. It may have been intended for his cousin and eventual successor, Bertram Talbot (17th Earl of Shrewsbury); or it may have been intended as a Dower House for the Earl's wife, if he should predecease her. Towards the end of the castle's construction, the earl suggested the castle could be a home for priests, but Pugin was "vehemently against the idea".[7]
John is remembered as "Good Earl John"[1] for his charity, having supported local schools and churches,[3] and financed the construction of new Catholic chapels around the Midlands.[1] Among the buildings he helped finance is St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham.[2] Adjacent to Alton Castle, John had a new church constructed alongside a "replica of a medieval hospital, a guildhall and presbytery"; this was again to the designs of Augustus Pugin. The Earl's friend, Ambrose Lisle March Phillipps De Lisle, convinced him to construct a monastery: this idea developed into the hospital complex that was built, as John felt it "could do more good for the community" than a monastery. The "hospital" served as a "humanitarian almshouse", providing for the poor and elderly of the parish. The buildings also provided lodgings for poor and elderly priests, with an attached library and dining room. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, was also used as a school for local poor children.[7]
John died on 9 November 1852, aged 61.[3][4] His funeral was held in the Chapel of St Peter, Alton Towers, on 14 December 1852.[8] John and his wife are buried in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, the church John built adjacent to Alton Castle.[7]
Family
John married Maria Theresa Talbot (died 8 June 1856[9]), daughter of William Talbot of Castle Talbot, County Wexford, Ireland. They had three children:
The Hon. John Talbot; their only son, died in infancy.[2]
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.[1] The pair married on 11 May 1835[13] in Rome.[1] Gwendoline died of Scarlet fever in Rome, 27 October 1840, aged only 22. Gwendoline and Marcantonio had 4 children. Their 3 sons all died of measles shortly after Gwendoline's death. Their daughter, Agnese, married to become Duchess of Sora.[1]
References
^ abcdefghKohn, Marc-Arthur. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
^ abcdThe Institute of Our Lady of Mercy. . Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
^ abcdeTowersTimes.co.uk : Alton Towers : Earls of Shrewsbury October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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For other people named John Talbot see John Talbot disambiguation 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 1 although he was the last Earl of Shrewsbury to follow the Catholic faith 2 John was also Lord High Steward of Ireland an office the Earls of Shrewsbury have held since 1446 2 John Talbot16th Earl of ShrewsburyCoat of Arms of the Talbot FamilyTenure 1827 1852 PredecessorCharles Talbot 15th Earl of Shrewsbury uncle SuccessorBertram Arthur Talbot 17th Earl of Shrewsbury cousin Other titles16th Earl of WaterfordBorn 1791 03 18 18 March 1791Died9 November 1852 1852 11 09 aged 61 BuriedSt John the Baptist Catholic Church Alton Staffordshire 52 58 45 N 1 53 33 W 52 979030 N 1 892527 W 52 979030 1 892527 Coordinates 52 58 45 N 1 53 33 W 52 979030 N 1 892527 W 52 979030 1 892527NationalityBritishResidenceHeythrop Park later Alton TowersOfficesLord High Steward of IrelandSpouse s Maria Theresa TalbotIssueThe Hon John Talbot died in infancy Lady Mary Alathea Beatrix Talbot married Prince Philipo Andrea Doria Lady Gwendoline Catherine Talbot married Prince Marcantonio Borghese 8th Prince of Sulmona ParentsJohn Joseph Talbot Catherine Clifton Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditJohn was born on 18 March 1791 3 4 son of John Joseph Talbot 9 June 1765 8 August 1815 and Catherine Talbot Nee Clifton 5 He inherited his titles in 1827 from his paternal uncle Charles Talbot 15th Earl of Shrewsbury 3 Alton Towers from across the ornamental lake Among the estates he inherited from his uncle was the Talbot family s main home Heythrop Park which burned down in 1831 After the fire John moved the family to another of his inherited estates in Staffordshire The house had originally been known as Alverton Lodge and had been enlarged by the 15th Earl who enclosed the park and started creating the formal valley gardens to create Alton Abbey the name Abbey was chosen because it was fashionable the site had no religious connections John continued his uncle s work at Alton developing and expanding the house and estate further he renamed it Alton Towers 3 John was a patron of the Gothic revival 6 and commissioned noted Gothic revival architect Augustus Pugin to work at the towers 1 Alton Castle from across the Churnet Valley In addition to the building work at Alton Towers John set about rebuilding nearby Alton Castle The castle occupies a rocky precipice above the River Churnet on the outskirts of the village of Alton Staffordshire On a site fortified since Saxon times the 12th century castle had fallen into ruins by the 19th century John had most of the ruins demolished engaging Pugin again to design a new gothic revival castle which was built to resemble a French or German medieval castle It is unclear why the 16th Earl had the castle rebuilt It may have been intended for his cousin and eventual successor Bertram Talbot 17th Earl of Shrewsbury or it may have been intended as a Dower House for the Earl s wife if he should predecease her Towards the end of the castle s construction the earl suggested the castle could be a home for priests but Pugin was vehemently against the idea 7 John is remembered as Good Earl John 1 for his charity having supported local schools and churches 3 and financed the construction of new Catholic chapels around the Midlands 1 Among the buildings he helped finance is St Chad s Cathedral in Birmingham 2 Adjacent to Alton Castle John had a new church constructed alongside a replica of a medieval hospital a guildhall and presbytery this was again to the designs of Augustus Pugin The Earl s friend Ambrose Lisle March Phillipps De Lisle convinced him to construct a monastery this idea developed into the hospital complex that was built as John felt it could do more good for the community than a monastery The hospital served as a humanitarian almshouse providing for the poor and elderly of the parish The buildings also provided lodgings for poor and elderly priests with an attached library and dining room The church dedicated to St John the Baptist was also used as a school for local poor children 7 John died on 9 November 1852 aged 61 3 4 His funeral was held in the Chapel of St Peter Alton Towers on 14 December 1852 8 John and his wife are buried in St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church the church John built adjacent to Alton Castle 7 Family EditJohn married Maria Theresa Talbot died 8 June 1856 9 daughter of William Talbot of Castle Talbot County Wexford Ireland They had three children The Hon John Talbot their only son died in infancy 2 Lady Mary Alathea Beatrix Talbot married Prince Filippo Andrea Doria died 19 March 1876 10 in Rome in 1832 1 Mary and Prince Filippo had met at Queen Victoria s Coronation citation needed Victoria suggested her as one of the eight coronal train bearers as a gesture towards her father being the oldest earl in the kingdom and a Roman Catholic 11 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 12 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 1 The pair married on 11 May 1835 13 in Rome 1 Gwendoline died of Scarlet fever in Rome 27 October 1840 aged only 22 Gwendoline and Marcantonio had 4 children Their 3 sons all died of measles shortly after Gwendoline s death Their daughter Agnese married to become Duchess of Sora 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h Kohn Marc Arthur The Tragic Destiny of the British Aristocrat known as Rome s Mother of the Poor PDF Archived from the original PDF on 29 October 2013 Retrieved 25 October 2013 a b c d The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy John Talbot Archived from the original on 29 October 2013 Retrieved 25 October 2013 a b c d e TowersTimes co uk Alton Towers Earls of Shrewsbury Archived October 29 2013 at the Wayback Machine a b Leigh Rayment s Peerage Page Usurped The Peerage John Joseph Talbot National Portrait Gallery John Talbot 16th Earl of Shrewsbury a b c Alton Towers Heritage The 16th Earl and Castle Hill Archived 7 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine The Pugins and The Catholic Midlands by Roderick O Donnell where an illustration is also included The Peerage Maria Theresa Talbot The Peerage Prince Philip Andrew Doria Pamphilj Landi The Letters of Queen Victoria A Selection From Her Majesty s Correspondence 5 May 1838 Charles Mosley ed 2003 Burke s Peerage Baronetage amp Knightage Volume 3 107th ed Wilmington Delaware U S A Burke s Peerage Genealogical Books Ltd p 3604 The Peerage Mark Antony Borghese Prince BorgheseExternal links EditPortrait of John Talbot 16th Earl of Shrewsbury BBC Your Paintings Collection Engraving of John Talbot 16th Earl of Shrewsbury National Portrait Gallery Honorary titlesPreceded byCharles Talbot Lord High Steward of Ireland1827 1852 Succeeded byBertram Arthur TalbotPeerage of EnglandPreceded byCharles Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury1827 1852 Succeeded byBertram Arthur TalbotPeerage of IrelandPreceded byCharles Talbot Earl of Waterford1827 1852 Succeeded byBertram Arthur Talbot Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Talbot 16th Earl of Shrewsbury amp oldid 1121835608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
