he was the third son of richard talbot, 4th baron talbot, and his wife ankaret le strange. his elder brothers were gilbert talbot, 5th baron talbot and john talbot, 1st earl of shrewsbury. he seems to have entered the church while he was still in his early teens. he became prebendary of hereford cathedral and york cathedral, and dean of chichester in 1415. in 1416 he was elected archbishop of armagh but failed to secure papal confirmation of his election. the following year he was consecrated archbishop of dublin.