James Talbot, 4th Baron Talbot de Malahide (1805-1883), Politician and President of the Archaeological Society

Sitter in 4 portraits
Having spent several years travelling in Europe, Talbot returned to his home country of Ireland. He spent three years in Parliament as a Whig MP, from 1832 to 1835. Talbot succeeded to the Irish peerage on his father's death in 1850 and in 1856 he was created a peer in the United Kingdom. In the House of Lords he served as a Lord-in-Waiting in the Liberal administrations of Lord Palmerston and Lord Russell. Talbot was a noted amateur archaeologist and an active member of the Royal Archaeological Institute, serving as President for thirty years. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Society of Antiquaries and served as President of the Royal Irish Academy.