Terry Foreman on 3 Jun 2012  •  Link

Capt. Charles Talbot (d. by 1688). Naval officer; held nine commissions 1661-85.

L&M Companion

Bill on 12 May 2013  •  Link

TALBOT, Charles,—was descended from sir Gilbert Talbot, second son of John, the second earl of Shrewsbury; and notwithstanding his high rank, which, at that time of day might, by some persons, have been expected to have accelerated his promotion, served several years as a lieutenant before he attained the rank of a commander. In 1661 he was appointed lieutenant of the Royal Charles; of the Royal James, and Reserve in the following year; of the Jersey in 1663; and the Golden Lion in 1664. Soon as a rupture with Holland appeared unavoidable, Mr. Talbot was raised to the rank of commander, a promotion his experience, and length of service, appeared well to entitle him to. Having been appointed captain of the Guardland in the latter end of the year 1664, he was very active at the beginning of the war, and was fortunate enough to capture several of their merchant vessels. In 1666 he was promoted to the Elizabeth, a small fourth rate, and sent, with a small convoy, to Lisbon, whence he returned in the month of May. His care, and diligence were particularly conspicuous in the execution of this service; for though he was attended for several days, during his passage, by two privateers, who made frequent efforts to attack his charge, and was also unfortunate enough to fall in with a French squadron of twenty sail off the rock, he, nevertheless, was so circumspect and skilful, that he carried all his ships in, with safety, though the enemy were, at one time, actually within gun shot. His ship not returning early enough to England, he was not present at the long and unfortunate action between the duke of Albemarle and the Dutch, but was so much disabled during the first day of the second engagement, as to be obliged to quit the fleet, and put into Harwich. Whether what might have been imputed to him as a misfortune than a crime, was construed into an impropriety of conduct, we know not, but he appears, after this, to have had no command for some years: at length, on the 12th of April 1678, he was appointed, by king Charles the Second, commander of the Mary Rose, and sent to Newfoundland. On the 28th of March he was made captain of the Falcon, which is the latest information we have been able to procure concerning him.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.