John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury

The Earl of Shrewsbury
Effigy of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, KG (d.1453), Whitchurch, Shropshire. A talbot dog is shown as the crest (head missing) on his helmet on which his head rests and also as his footrest
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
In office 1414–1419
Monarch	Henry IV Henry V
Preceded by	Sir John Stanley
Succeeded by	The Earl of Ormond
Lord High Steward of Ireland
In office 1446–1453
Monarch	Henry VI
Preceded by	New office
Succeeded by	The 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury
Constable of France
In office 1445–1453
Monarch	Henry VI
Preceded by	The Duke of Brittany
Succeeded by	The Count of Saint-Pol
Personal details
Born	1384 or 1387 Blakemere, Shropshire
Died	17 July 1453 Castillon-la-Bataille, Gascony
Cause of death	Killed in Action
Military service
Allegiance	England
Service/branch	English army
Battles/wars	Hundred Years' War Siege of Orléans Battle of Patay (POW) Battle of Castillon †

John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and 1st Earl of Waterford KG (1384/1387 – 17 July 1453), known as "Old Talbot", was a noted English military commander during the Hundred Years' War, as well as the only Lancastrian Constable of France.

He was descended from Richard Talbot, a tenant in 1086 of Walter Giffard at Woburn and Battledsen in Bedfordshire. The Talbot family were vassals of the Giffards in Normandy. Hugh Talbot, probably Richard's son, made a grant to Beaubec Abbey, confirmed by his son Richard Talbot in 1153. This Richard (d. 1175) is listed in 1166 as holding three fees of the Honour of Giffard in Buckinghamshire. He also held a fee at Linton in Herefordshire, for which his son Gilbert Talbot (d. 1231) obtained a fresh charter in 1190. Gilbert's grandson Gilbert (d. 1274) married Gwenlynn Mechyll, daughter and sole heiress of the Welsh Prince Rhys Mechyll, whose armorials the Talbots thenceforth assumed in lieu of their own former arms. Their son Sir Richard Talbot, who signed the Barons' Letter, 1301, held the manor of Eccleswall in Herefordshire in right of his wife Sarah, sister of William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick. In 1331 Richard's son Gilbert Talbot (1276–1346) was summoned to Parliament, which is considered evidence of his baronial status – see Baron Talbot. Gilbert's son Richard married Elizabeth Comyn, bringing with her the inheritance of Goodrich Castle.

John Talbot was born in 1383 at Black Mere Castle near Whitchurch, Shropshire, as second son of Richard Talbot, 4th Baron Talbot, by Ankaret le Strange, 7th Baroness Strange of Blackmere. His younger brother Richard became Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland : he was one of the most influential Irish statesmen of his time, and his brother's most loyal supporter during his often troubled years in Ireland. Their birthplace is now a scheduled monument listed as Blakemere Moat, site of the demolished fortified manor house.