George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury

George Talbot
6th Earl of Shrewsbury
Spouse(s)	Lady Gertrude Manners Bess of Hardwick
Issue Lord Francis Talbot Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury Edward Talbot, 8th Earl of Shrewsbury Catherine Talbot Mary Talbot Grace Talbot
Father	Francis Talbot, 5th Earl of Shrewsbury
Mother	Mary Dacre
Born	1528
Died	18 November 1590

George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 6th Earl of Waterford, 12th Baron Talbot, 11th Baron Furnivall, KG, Earl Marshal (1528 – 18 November 1590) was an English magnate and military commander.

Talbot was the only son of Francis Talbot, 5th Earl of Shrewsbury and Mary Dacre. In early life he saw active military service, when he took part in the invasion of Scotland under the Protector Somerset. He was sent by his father in October 1557 to the relief of Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland pent up in Alnwick Castle. He then remained for some months in service on the border, with five hundred horsemen under his command.

In 1560, he inherited the Earldom of Shrewsbury, the Barony of Furnivall and the position of Justice in Eyre, which had been his father's. He also took over his father's position of Chamberlain of the Exchequer. One year later, he was created a Knight of the Garter, and in 1567, he married Bess of Hardwick in a double wedding with their two eldest children from previous marriages. Elizabeth Shrewsbury, Bess, commemorated her new initials in magnificent style, her house at Hardwick is topped with a balustrade within which the scrolling letters ES appearing four times.

Shrewsbury was selected as the keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth I in 1568 after she had escaped to England from Scotland following the disastrous Battle of Langside. Elizabeth imposed the responsible task of guarding Mary on him, and did not allow him to resign the charge for over 15 years. For this and other reasons his marriage became rocky.