July 1453 /
ohn Talbot, born in 1373 at Blechmore in Shropshire, was the second son of Richard, Lord Talbot. In 1414, he was sent to Ireland to suppress a rebelion and given the title of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He then fought in France as part of the Hundred Years War where he was renowned as a great leader even by the French themselves. He was present at the siege of Orleans in 1429 until Joan of Arc rescued the city forcing the English to retreat. At the Battle of Patay a few months later, the English were defeated and Lord Talbot was captured. As was usual in medieval times, the more important prisoners were held captive in the hope of exchanging them for a ransom fee. In John s case he was exchanged for an important French hostage that the English had taken. After his release he once again commanded the English in France and attacked Paris. After his successes in France he returned to England and was given the title Earl of Shrewsbury by King Henry VI. Returning again t