Theobald was the eldest of Sir John Taaffe's, 1st Viscount Taaffe of Corren, fifteen children. His mother was Anne Dillon, daughter of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon. Theobald succeeded his father to the viscountcy in 1642. He represented County Sligo in the Parliament of Ireland from 1639 until his elevation to the peerage. Theobald Taaffe was appointed to lead the Irish Munster army by Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry in 1647. He was not an impressive commander, failing to prevent the sack of Cashel and then leading the Munster army to defeat at the battle of Knocknanauss in 1647. He had an antiquated sense of chivalry - before Knocknanuss he suggested to Baron Inchiquin, the enemy general, that the battle should be decided by 1000 hand picked men from each side. Inchiquin's reply was sarcastic: you have performed as much as I desire in bringing your army hither, I shall not desire you to lose any advantage you have in numbers of men, being your offer was only made for recreation. As fate would have it, Taaffe and Inchiquin fought on the same side at the Battle of Arklow two years later. Unfortunately for Taaffe, Inchiquin lost this time. With the defeat of the Royalist cause in Ireland, Taaffe went into exile with Charles II. He was the ninth on the list of people excluded from pardon in the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 as leaders of the Royalist forces in Ireland. Following the Restoration of Charles II, he was created Earl of Carlingford. He was sent on missions to the Duke of Lorraine and to the Holy Roman Emperor, by which was established the connection of his family with the house of Habsburg and Lorraine, which continued to the end of the Habsburg monarchy. Critics said that he had no qualifications for the position except a capacity for drink. He was married twice, firstly to Mary White, by whom he had a son, The Hon. John Taaffe, who married Rose Lambart, and secondly to Anne Pershall, without issue. He also had a daughter by Lucy Walter named Mary Crofts, whose father some sources claim to have been Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford and others Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington. Mary married firstly William Sarsfield and had female issue, and married secondly William Fanshawe, and had issue.
