Mark Talbot facts for kids
Mark Talbot (born around 1649, died 1702) was an Irish soldier and politician. He served in the French army because Irish Catholics were not allowed to join the armies in Ireland or England at that time. His father became important when King James II, a Catholic, ruled Ireland. King James removed Protestant officers from the army and replaced them with Catholics.
During this time, Mark Talbot became a high-ranking officer, a lieutenant colonel, in 1689. He led soldiers at Carrickfergus during a Protestant uprising against King James. He also fought for King James's side, known as the Jacobites, in later battles. Because of his efforts, he was promoted to brigadier in 1691. He also served as a Member of Parliament for Belfast.
Mark Talbot's Early Life
Mark Talbot was born in Ireland sometime during the Irish Confederate Wars. His father was Richard Talbot, a famous Irish soldier and courtier. Mark's mother is not known, but people think she was from the O'Neill family in County Antrim. Mark kept strong connections to that area.
When Charles II was king, Mark Talbot joined the French Army. Many Irish Catholics did this because laws called the Penal Laws stopped them from serving in the Irish or English Army.
A Rising Military Career
After 1685, Mark's father, Richard Talbot, gained a lot of power in Ireland. This happened when the Catholic James II became king. James II quickly removed Protestant officers from the Irish Army and put Catholics in their place. Mark Talbot was one of the people who benefited from this change. He became a lieutenant colonel in the Earl of Antrim's Regiment in 1689. Many of the new officers were not very experienced. However, Mark was part of a group of skilled soldiers who had fought in other parts of Europe. This group included Lawrence Dempsey and Patrick Sarsfield.
Talbot was put in charge of the troops at Carrickfergus. This was when a big rebellion started among Irish Protestants against King James's rule. Mark fought on the Jacobite side during the Williamite War in Ireland. When King James arrived in Ireland, he called a special meeting of Parliament. Mark was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Belfast.
He was promoted to brigadier in 1691. He was badly hurt at the Battle of Aughrim.
Life After the War
After the Treaty of Limerick was signed, Mark Talbot was part of a group known as the Flight of the Wild Geese. These were Irish soldiers who went to live in other countries. Mark went to Europe and continued to serve with Irish forces in the French Army. He fought in Catalonia in 1692. He was also present at the Battle of Marsaglia in Italy in 1693.
Later, he was given command of Clare's Regiment. This regiment was meant to be part of a plan to invade England in 1694.
Soon after, Talbot faced some difficulties. Despite pleas from his former commanders, the French King Louis XIV removed him from his position for a time. He was later allowed back into the French Army as a colonel. This happened when the War of the Spanish Succession began. Mark Talbot was killed in battle at the Battle of Luzzara in 1702.
Even though Mark was his father's only son, he could not inherit the title of Earl of Tyrconnell. This was because his parents were not married. So, after his father died in 1691, the title went to one of his cousins instead.
