James Robert Talbot (28 June 1726 – 26 January 1790) was an English Catholic prelate who served as Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1781 until his death.
He was born at Shrewsbury House in Isleworth, Middlesex on 28 June 1726, the fourth son of the Honourable George Talbot and Mary FitzWilliam.
In each case he was acquitted for lack of evidence, but the judge, Lord Mansfield, was seen as being on Talbot's side, in consequence of which, although he was no friend to Roman Catholics in general, his London house was sacked during the Gordon Riots of 1780.
In 1783, Talbot refused to grant faculties to preach and hear confessions to two priests returning to America, claiming he no longer had jurisdiction.
[5] He lived a retired life in Hammersmith, his charitable nature 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, Hertfordshire, where he had a preparatory academy which afterwards developed into St Edmund's College.
[6] The penal laws against Roman Catholic schools still existed, and Talbot was again threatened with imprisonment; but he contrived to evade punishment.