George Talbot, 9th Earl of Shrewsbury facts for kids

George Talbot, 9th Earl of Shrewsbury, 9th Earl of Waterford (born December 19, 1566 – died April 2, 1630) was an important English nobleman. He was the son of Sir John Talbot from Grafton Manor in Worcestershire. His father was a strong Roman Catholic during a time when people of that faith faced challenges in England.

Early Life and Education

George Talbot grew up in a time when being a Catholic in England could be difficult. Because of this, he went to school in Europe. He studied in Amiens, France, and also in Rome. While in Rome, he became a priest in the Catholic Church.

After becoming a priest, George Talbot worked for a powerful ruler named Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria in Munich, Germany.

Becoming an Earl

In 1618, George Talbot became the Earl of Shrewsbury. This title was passed down to him from a distant relative, Edward Talbot. An "Earl" is a high-ranking nobleman, often in charge of large areas of land.

When George became the Earl, Maximilian, the ruler he worked for, helped him. Maximilian spoke to King James I of England and convinced the King to let George return to England. This allowed George to manage his family's lands and practice his religion freely. He planned to spend his time studying quietly.

Support for Education

George Talbot was a very religious man. It is believed that in 1612, he gave a large sum of money to help the Jesuits start a college in Leuven, a city in what is now Belgium. This shows his dedication to his faith and to education.

Later Life and Legacy

As a Catholic priest, George Talbot never married. He passed away in 1630 when he was 63 years old. He was buried in his family's special tomb at the church in Albrighton, near Wolverhampton in Shropshire. A famous poet named William Habington even wrote a poem to remember him.

After George's death, his nephew, John Talbot, became the 10th Earl of Shrewsbury. John was the son of George's brother, also named John Talbot, who lived at Longford.