Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury
Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, 7th Earl of Waterford, KG (20 November 1552[1] – 8 May 1616) was a peer in the peerage of England.[2]
He was the eldest surviving son of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, by the latter's first marriage to Gertrude Manners, daughter of the first Earl of Rutland.
In 1568, Gilbert was married off to Mary Cavendish, daughter of his new stepmother, Bess of Hardwick. When Bess and her husband fell out, Gilbert took the side of his wife and his mother-in-law against his own father. However, when the old earl died in 1590, Gilbert refused Bess the widow's portion she felt was her due, and consequently they fell out.
The children from his marriage to Mary Cavendish were:
- Lady Mary Talbot (1580–1649)
- Lady Elizabeth Talbot (1582–1651)
- Lady Alethea Talbot (1585–1654)
Two sons, George and John, died in infancy.
He was elected knight of the shire (MP) for Derbyshire in 1572. He was summoned to the House of Lords as Baron Talbot in 1589 and became 7th Earl of Shrewsbury on his father's death in 1590.[3]
In 1592, he was created a Knight of the Garter, but feuded with his former friend John Stanhope when John's brother got the post of Earl Marshal of England, which Gilbert had assumed would be his. Gilbert's stepbrother Charles Cavendish challenged Stanhope to a duel for his sake, which was not fought. Elizabeth I was displeased and took Stanhope's side.[4] After this Gilbert challenged his own brother Edward to a duel over a lease, but Edward refused to fight him. Gilbert accused his brother of planning to poison him, but lost his case against him.
He became a patron of the arts, as was his daughter Alethea, who became Countess of Arundel by her marriage to Thomas Howard in 1606. Talbot's second daughter, Elizabeth, married Henry Grey, 8th Earl of Kent. The eldest, Mary, married William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke. As well as bringing up their three daughters, Gilbert and Mary Talbot spent a good deal of time with their orphaned niece, Arbella Stuart.
In the absence of a male heir, he was succeeded in the earldom of Shrewsbury by his younger brother, Edward. However, some of the extensive estates passed then (or after Edward's death) to his daughters.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Record for Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury on thepeerage.com
- ^
"Talbot, Gilbert (1553-1616)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. - ^ "History of Parliament". History of Parliament trust. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/talbot-gilbert-1552-1616. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Lovell, Mary S. (2005). Bess of Hardwick, First Lady of Chatsworth. Little, Brown. pp. 398–402. ISBN 0349115893
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The 6th Earl of Shrewsbury |
Lord High Steward of Ireland 1590–1616 |
Succeeded by The 8th Earl of Shrewsbury |
| Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire 1590–1616 |
Vacant
Title next held by
The Earl of DevonshireLord Cavendish of Hardwick |
|
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by George Talbot |
Earl of Shrewsbury 1590–1616 |
Succeeded by Edward Talbot |
| Baron Talbot (writ in acceleration) 1589–1616 |
||
| Baron Strange of Blackmere 1590–1616 |
In abeyance | |
| Baron Furnivall 1590–1616 |
||
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by George Talbot |
Earl of Waterford 1590–1616 |
Succeeded by Edward Talbot |
