William Talbot (Jacobite)

William Talbot (fl. 1689-1716) was an Irish Jacobite politician and military figure. He was a member of the Irish Parliament called by James II in 1689. This parliament is often referred to as the "Patriot Parliament" due to its predominantly Catholic membership and its attempts to reverse the land settlements that had dispossessed many Catholics in the preceding decades.

Talbot represented a constituency in the Parliament, though specific details of his constituency are often omitted in broad histories of the period. He actively supported James II's efforts to regain the English throne after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Parliament aimed to restore Catholic land ownership and grant religious freedoms to Catholics.

Following the defeat of the Jacobite forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and the subsequent Williamite victory in the War of the Two Kings, Talbot faced the consequences of his allegiance. Like many Jacobites, he likely faced loss of property, exile, or other forms of punishment. Records indicate his involvement in Jacobite activities extended beyond the parliamentary setting, possibly including military service or conspiracy. His name appears in historical records linked to later Jacobite plots and attempts to restore the Stuart monarchy, specifically until approximately 1716, indicating a continued commitment to the Jacobite cause even after the failure of James II's initial attempt. Further biographical details are scarce, but he remains a notable figure representing Irish Catholic support for the Jacobite cause in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.