Richard Talbot, Earl of Tyrconnell, was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1687 by King James II, becoming the first Catholic to hold that office since the Reformation. His appointment marked a pivotal moment in Irish history, reflecting King James’s efforts to restore Catholic influence in Ireland.
Talbot also became Commander-in-Chief of the Irish Army, where he undertook a bold restructuring—replacing Protestant officers and troops with Catholics, which alarmed the Protestant Ascendancy and deepened sectarian tensions.
His leadership during this period helped lay the groundwork for Irish Catholic resistance in the Williamite War (1689–1691), where he remained a key supporter of the Jacobite cause.