George Bingham, 5th Earl of Lucan facts for kids
Colonel George Charles Bingham, 5th Earl of Lucan, also known as Lord Bingham for many years, was a British soldier and politician. He was born on December 13, 1860, and passed away on April 20, 1949. His sister, Rosalind Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn, was a great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Lucan
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The Earl of Lucan, c. 1896
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| Member of Parliament for Chertsey | |
| In office 6 July 1904 – 8 January 1906 |
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| Preceded by | John Arthur Fyler |
| Succeeded by | Francis Marnham |
| Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords | |
| In office 1929–1940 |
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| Preceded by | The Earl of Plymouth |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Templemore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 December 1860 |
| Died | 20 April 1949 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Violet S B Spender Clay |
| Children |
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| Alma mater | Harrow, Sandhurst. |
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Charles Bingham was the son of Charles Bingham, 4th Earl of Lucan. His mother was Lady Cecilia Catherine Gordon-Lennox. She was one of three daughters of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond.
Young George went to Harrow School, a famous boarding school. After that, he studied at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. This is a well-known military academy in the United Kingdom.
Military Service
In 1881, after finishing Sandhurst, Lucan joined the Rifle Brigade. He was a soldier and took part in the Bechuanaland Expedition from 1884 to 1885. For his service, he received the Order of the Nile, 3rd Class.
He first retired from the army in 1896 with the rank of captain. In 1900, he joined the 1st London Rifle Volunteers, which was a part of the territorial army. He started as a major and later became a colonel.
Lucan fought again during the First World War. His bravery and actions were mentioned in official reports. In 1917, he became an Honorary Brigadier-General. He finally retired from military service in 1923 as a Lieutenant-Colonel.
Political Career
Lucan served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Chertsey area in Surrey. He won a special election on July 6, 1904, as a Conservative candidate. However, he lost his seat in the 1906 general election.
When his father passed away on June 5, 1914, George became the Earl of Lucan. A few days after Britain declared war in August 1914, he was chosen as an Irish representative peer. This allowed him to become a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
He worked as a Lord-in-Waiting from 1920 to 1924 and again from 1924 to 1929. A Lord-in-Waiting is a government official who helps manage business in the House of Lords. He served under Prime Ministers like David Lloyd George and Stanley Baldwin.
In 1929, he was appointed as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms. This is a ceremonial role in the royal household. He held this position again from 1931 to 1940.
Lucan also held local government roles. He was the High Sheriff of Mayo in Ireland from 1902 to 1903. He also served as a Deputy Lieutenant for County Mayo and Middlesex. These were honorary roles where he would represent the Lord-Lieutenant for local events and charities. He also worked as a Justice of the Peace in local courts in Middlesex.
On June 26, 1934, Lucan was given a new title: Baron Bingham. This title meant he and his future heirs could sit in the House of Lords.
In 1922, Lucan sold Laleham House, which had been his family's home since 1803. He sold it to the Roman Catholic Church. Before that, he had already given more land to expand Laleham Park for the community to use.
Family Life
In 1896, Lucan married Violet Sylvia Blanche Spender Clay. They had four children together:
- George Charles Patrick Bingham, 6th Earl of Lucan (born 1898, died 1964)
- Lady Barbara Violet Bingham (born 1902, died 1963), who married John Bevan
- The Honourable John Edward Bingham (born 1904, died 1992)
- Lady Margaret Bingham (born 1905, died 1977), who married Field Marshal the 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis.
Lord Lucan passed away in April 1949 at the age of 88. His eldest son, George, inherited his title. His wife, Lady Lucan, lived until 1972.
Awards and Honours
Lucan received several important awards during his life:
- In 1885, he was given the Order of the Nile, 3rd Class.
- During the First World War, he received the Order of St. Stanislas of Russia, second class, from Nicholas II of Russia.
- In 1919, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (C.B.).
- He became a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) in 1920.
- He also received the Territorial Decoration (T.D.) in 1920.
- From 1920 to 1928, he was one of the King's aides-de-camp. This was a special honorary role for military figures.
Death
Lord Lucan died in April 1949 while staying at a hotel in Eastbourne. He usually lived in Westminster, London. His son handled his estate after his death.
Images for kids
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Laleham House, sold by Lucan in 1922, later known as Laleham Abbey.
