Quarto filho de George Talbot e irmão do décimo quarto Conde de Shrewsbury (n. 1726; m. 1790); conhecido principalmente por ter sido o último sacerdote a ser indiciado nos tribunais públicos por celebrar a Missa. Ele foi educado em Douai, do qual foi um grande benfeitor. Em 1759, aos trinta e três anos, foi consagrado bispo coadjutor do Dr. Challoner. Durante seu episcopado, foi levado a julgamento duas vezes, com base na denúncia do conhecido "Informante" Payne, em 1769 e 1771, respectivamente. Em cada caso, foi absolvido por falta de provas, mas o juiz, Lord Mansfield, claramente estava ao seu lado, razão pela qual, embora não fosse amigo dos católicos como tal, sua casa foi saqueada durante os Distúrbios de Gordon em 1780. Com a morte do Bispo Challoner em 1781, o Bispo James Talbot se tornou Vigário Apostólico do Distrito de Londres, o qual administrou por nove anos. Levou uma vida reclusa em Hammersmith, sua caridade ilimitada lhe garantindo o título de "Bom Bispo Talbot". Seu principal trabalho durante esses anos foi a conclusão da compra da propriedade em Old Hall, Herts, onde tinha uma academia preparatória que depois se desenvolveu no Colégio de São Eduardo. A lei penal contra escolas católicas ainda existia, e o Bispo Talbot foi novamente ameaçado com prisão; mas conseguiu escapar da punição. Nos últimos anos de sua vida, o Comitê Católico já ameaçava trazer problemas. Para controlá-lo, o Bispo Talbot consentiu em ser eleito membro; mas logo ficou evidente que os leigos estavam fora de controle. No entanto, a crise ainda não havia chegado quando o Bispo Talbot faleceu em sua casa em Hammersmith.
Fourth son of George Talbot and brother of the fourteenth Earl of Shrewsbury (b. 1726; d. 1790); chiefly known for having been the last priest to be indicted in the public courts for saying Mass. He was educated at Douai, to which college he was a great benefactor. In 1759, at the age of thirty-three, he was consecrated coadjutor bishop to Dr. Challoner. During his episcopate he was twice brought to trial, on the information lodged by the well-known "Informer" Payne, in 1769 and 1771 respectively. In each case he was acquitted for want of evidence, but the judge, Lord Mansfield, was plainly on his side, in consequence of which, though he was no friend to Catholics as such, his house was sacked during the Gordon Riots in 1780. On the death of Bishop Challoner in 1781, Bishop James Talbot became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, which he ruled for nine years. He lived a retired life at Hammersmith, his unbounded charity gaining for him the title of "the Good Bishop Talbot". His chief work during these years was the completion of the purchase of the property at Old Hall, Herts, where he had a preparatory academy which afterwards developed into St. Edmund's College. The penal law against Catholic schools still existed, and Bishop Talbot was again threatened with imprisonment; but he contrived to evade punishment. During the last years of his life the Catholic Committee was already threatening trouble. In order to control it, Bishop Talbot allowed himself to be elected a member; but it was soon evident that the laymen were beyond control. The crisis however had not yet arrived when Bishop Talbot died at his house at Hammersmith.
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- O único relato conectado de seu episcopado está em WARD, Dawn of Catholic Revival (Londres, 1909). Para detalhes de suas provas, veja BARNARD, Life of Challoner (Londres, 1784)
- BURTON, The Life and Times of Bishop Challoner (Londres, 1910)
- mais alucões em HUSENBETH, Life of Milner (Dublin, 1862)
- BRADY, Catholic Hierarchy (Londres, 1877)
- AMHERST, History of Catholic Emancipation (Londres, 1886)
- WARD, History of St. Edmund's College (Londres, 1893)
- HAILE E BONNEY, Life of Lingard (Londres, 1911). Veja também o Sermão Fúnebre de MILNER (MS. nos Arquivos de Westminster).
- The only connected account of his episcopate is in WARD, Dawn of Catholic Revival (London, 1909). For details of his trials, see BARNARD, Life of Challoner (London, 1784)
- BURTON, The Life and Times of Bishop Challoner (London, 1910)
- further allusions in HUSENBETH, Life of Milner (Dublin, 1862)
- BRADY, Catholic Hierarchy (London, 1877)
- AMHERST, History of Catholic Emancipation (London, 1886)
- WARD, History of St. Edmund's College (London, 1893)
- HAILE AND BONNEY, Life of Lingard (London, 1911). See also MILNER's Obituary Sermon (MS. in Westminster Archives).