Reginald Arthur James Talbot,

Subject: Reginald Arthur James Talbot, Thu May 27, 2010 11:00 pm

Talbot, Hon. Reginald Arthur James (The Park), son of Henry, 18th Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot. Left 1857 3 . Joined 1st Life Guards, 1859; Lieut.-Col. Comm. 1886-8; retired as Major-Gen. 1903; served in Zulu War, 1879 (medal and clasp) and in Egyptian War, 1882 (present at Kassassin, Tel-el-Kebir, etc. ; mentioned in despatches ; British medal with clasp and Khedive's Star ; 4th Class Osmanieh) ; commanded Heavy Camel Corps in Soudan Expedition, 1884-5 (present at Abu Klea, El Gubet, and Metammeh ; mentioned in despatches ; 2 clasps) ; M.P. Stafford, 1869-74 ; Mil. Attache at Paris, 1889-95 ; commanded 1st Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot, 1896-9, and the Forces in Egypt, 1899-1903; Gov. of Victoria, 1904-8; Col. 3rd Dragoon Guards ; C.B. 1885 ; K.C.B. 1902 ; J.P. Berks, Major- Gen. the Hon. Sir R. A. J. Talbot, K.C.B. , 12, Manchester Square.

Subject: Re: Reginald Arthur James Talbot, Sun Jan 30, 2011 4:35 pm

Major General Hon. Sir Reginald Arthur James Talbot (1841 - 1929) had both a distinguished political and military career. He sat as an M. P. for Stafford (1869 - 74). He also served in the Zulu War (1879); in the Egyptian Campaign (1882); and in the Nile Expedition (1884 - 5), where he was mentioned in dispatches. Later he was Military Attache in Paris (1889 - 95); in command of the Calvary Brigade at Aldershot (1896 - 99); and commanded the army of occupation in Egypt (1899 - 1903). His final tour of duty was as Governor of Victoria, Australia (1904 - 08).

Subject: Re: Reginald Arthur James Talbot, Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:18 pm

"Early lifeTalbot was born in London, the third son of Henry, Viscount Ingestre (later 3rd Earl Talbot and then 18th Earl of Shrewsbury) and Lady Sarah Elizabeth, née Beresford, daughter of the 2nd Marquess of Waterford. After attending Harrow School, he joined the British Army and became a sub-lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards in 1859.

Political and military career. From 1869 to 1874, Talbot represented Stafford in the British House of Commons for the Conservative Party. On 8 May 1877, he married Margaret Jane Stuart-Wortley, granddaughter of the 1st Baron Wharncliffe.

He returned to active service in the army, fighting in the Anglo-Zulu War, Egypt and taking part in the unsuccessful Nile Expedition to relieve General Charles George Gordon in Khartoum.

Governor of Victoria. Talbot was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1885, and was knighted KCB in 1902. He was sworn in as Governor of Victoria on 25 April 1904. His tenure was marked by Talbot's determination to achieve visible improvement, and his reports to Britain favourably compared Victoria's economic and educational statistics to those of 1903.

Talbot died in London on 15 January 1929."

Born 11 July 1841(1841-07-11)
London, England, UK
Died 15 January 1929(1929-01-15) (aged 87)
London, England, UK
Nationality British
Spouse(s) Margaret Jane Stuart-Wortley
Profession Soldier

Subject: Re: Reginald Arthur James Talbot, Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:16 pm

"Sir Reginald Arthur James Talbot (1841-1929), governor, was born on 11 July 1841 in London, third son of Henry John Chetwynd Talbot, later the 18th earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife Lady Sarah Elizabeth, née Beresford, daughter of the 2nd marquess of Waterford. Educated at Harrow School, he entered the army and was sub-lieutenant, 1st Life Guards, in 1859, colonel in 1885 and commanded the unit in 1885-86. As Conservative member for Stafford in the House of Commons (1869-74), he spanned Gladstone's Liberal reform ministry, speaking infrequently but knowledgeably in support of army interests. He delineated the characteristics of 'so-called Army reformers since they had sprung into notoriety' as 'great carelessness', 'great inaccuracy', frequent 'want of knowledge', and 'great bitterness of expression'. On 8 May 1877 he married Margaret Jane Stuart-Wortley, granddaughter of the 1st baron Wharncliffe.

Talbot saw active service in the Zulu War (1879), Egypt (1882) and the Nile expedition which did not rescue General Gordon (1884-85). Military attaché in Paris during 1889-95, he returned to command the Cavalry Brigade in 1896. A major-general from 1898, he led the British army of occupation in Egypt, 1899-1902. He appeared 'the noblest figure of a man of war ever seen' and 'the highest type of Guards' Brigade Officer, haughty, distinguished, yet very human'.

Talbot was appointed C.B. (1885) and K.C.B. (1902). He was governor of Victoria from 25 April 1904 to 6 July 1908, taking eight months leave in England in 1907.

Strongly practical, Talbot quickly appreciated (Sir) Thomas Bent, his constant premier, whose unpolished efforts Talbot recognized as directed to the thrifty improvement of Victoria. Visible improvement mattered for Talbot. His last despatch favourably compared the statistics of Victoria in 1907 with 1903. Perhaps echoing his acquaintance Frank Tate, he deplored backward technical and secondary education. A valedictory report commended his then unusual energy in travelling around Victoria and getting to know its people.

Lady Talbot (1855-1937), far from being that governor's wife, the woman behind the man behind the times, actively promoted advanced social welfare projects. First president of the subsidized charitable institution the Talbot Colony for Epileptics, opened at Clayton in 1907, she had 'ensured the success of the new venture'. From 1908 the Lady Talbot Milk Institute dispensed wholesome, 'pure' but unpasteurized milk to approved needy recipients. In March 1907 she officially opened the College of Domestic Economy for which she had fought. Premier Bent sighed in her presence, 'I am getting frightened of Lady Talbot now. She is in so many things that are making demands on the Treasury'.

Retirement was not oblivion for Talbot. He welcomed Victorian visitors and worked for disabled World War I servicemen. His name recurred amongst 'Distinguished Invalids' in The Times during the weeks before he died, respected, on 15 January 1929 in London. He was buried at Medenham, Buckinghamshire. To the end he remained the model of a major-general."
by L. R. Gardiner

Posts : 3362 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Subject: Re: Reginald Arthur James Talbot, Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:27 am

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Major-General the Honourable Reginald Talbot, C.B., A.D.C. photographed in 1896.
John Young Collection

Subject: Re: Reginald Arthur James Talbot, Wed Apr 29, 2015 12:30 pm

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Reginald Talbot, circa 1880's
John Young Collection.

Posts : 3362 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Littlehand's photo

» Sir Reginald Coupland
» Reginald da Costa PORTER.
» Major General Sir Reginald Thomas Thynne K.C.B