Milo Talbot, 7th Baron Talbot of Malahide

Lord Talbot in 1957

Milo John Reginald Talbot, 7th Baron Talbot of Malahide^[a] CMG (1 December 1912 – 14 April 1973), was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, British diplomat, and accomplished Irish botanist and horticulturist.

Early life[]

Talbot was the son of Eva Joicey and Col. Milo George Talbot, fourth son of James Talbot, 4th Baron Talbot of Malahide. He was educated at Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge, and entered the Diplomatic Service in 1937.^[1] According to the Malahide Heritage Society webpage: "much of Milo’s career during the 1940s and early 50s is shrouded in mystery and rumour". While at Cambridge, Guy Burgess had been his history tutor and Anthony Blunt was also reported to have tutored him. Kim Philby and Donald Maclean were also at Cambridge around this time, but it is not known if Milo knew him. Milo is thought to have worked in the Secret Service for some years during World War II and to have encountered some of these men in the Foreign Office and in diplomatic postings abroad especially at Ankara in Turkey. In the course of Milo’s time at the Foreign Office during the Cold War, Burgess and Maclean defected to the Russians after Philby alerted them to the fact that they were under suspicion. Milo retired in 1956 aged 45. Philby subsequently defected as well, and was to be followed by Blunt who was exposed as a double agent. Blunt had been a regular guest of Milo at Malahide Castle.

Diplomatic career[]

Lord Talbot in his Baron's robes at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

In 1954 he was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Laos.^[2] The post was upgraded to that of ambassador the following year.^[3] He remained in the post until 1956, when he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.^[4]

Personal life[]

Lord Milo Talbot de Malahide in his garden

A keen gardener, Lord Talbot of Malahide commissioned and sponsored the book, The Endemic Flora of Tasmania. Lord Milo Talbot de Malahide was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable Irish Gardener of his time. The Gardens of Malahide Castle were largely created between 1942 and 1973 by Lord Talbot. In all, there are in excess of 5,000 different species and varieties of plants present, some of which Lord Talbot brought back from his travels in Australasia.

He succeeded his cousin James Talbot in the barony in 1948,^[5] and inherited the Malahide Castle and Estate at which he enhanced the gardens, Lord Talbot of Malahide died in April 1973, aged 60. The British barony of Talbot de Malahide died with him. He was succeeded in the Irish barony of Talbot of Malahide by his kinsman, Reginald Talbot.^[5] The Castle and Gardens having initially been inherited by his sister were later bequeathed to the Irish State (in order to offset inheritance taxes), and specifically was vested in the former Dublin County Council. The walled botanical gardens and glasshouses, containing Lord Milo Talbot's remarkable collection of Southern hemisphere and other plants, were also restored and  conserved. There are guided tours of the castle daily and visitors stroll at their leisure through the wonderful gardens. The Castle and 260 acre Demesne now falls within the Fingal County Council parks department, and is managed by an outside contractor with a popular Avoca restaurant and boutique shops. The grounds consist of a public park area and public sports fields.

,Notes[]

References[]