Margaret Bingham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Margaret Bingham, Countess of Lucan
Margaret Bingham (née Smith), Countess of Lucan, 1820
Born	Margaret Smyth 1740 Devon, England
Died	27 February 1814 London, England
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Charles Bingham, 1st Earl of Lucan
Children	Lavinia Spencer, Countess Spencer Lady Eleanor Bingham Lady Louisa Bingham Lady Anne Bingham Richard Bingham, 2nd Earl of Lucan
Parent(s)	James Smith Grace Smith

Margaret Bingham (born in 1740, died in 1814) was a talented English artist and writer. She was known for her paintings and poems. A famous writer named Horace Walpole really liked her art. She also wrote a poem called Verses on the Present State of Ireland. This poem spoke out against how Britain was treating Ireland.

About Margaret Bingham

Margaret Bingham was born Margaret Smyth in Devon, England, in 1740. Her parents were James and Grace Smith. In 1760, she married Charles Bingham. He later became the 1st Earl of Lucan.

Margaret passed away in London in 1814. She had five children:

• Lady Lavinia Bingham
• Lady Eleanor Margaret Bingham
• Lady Louisa Bingham
• Lady Anne Bingham
• Hon. Richard Bingham

Her Artistic Work

Margaret Bingham was a very skilled artist. She often made copies of other artists' paintings. She also painted tiny, detailed pictures called portrait miniatures. People in the United Kingdom and France collected her artwork.

When she was in Paris, she was allowed to visit the Palais-Royal. This was a special palace where she could copy famous artworks. These paintings belonged to the Duke of Orléans.

One of Margaret's biggest art projects took her 16 years to finish. She created many miniatures and detailed drawings for a special five-volume set of Shakespeare's historical plays. These books were kept in the library at Althorp, Northamptonshire. She also painted larger portraits, pictures of everyday objects called still lifes, and landscapes.

The famous writer Horace Walpole greatly admired Margaret's art. He wrote about her talent in his books. He said her skill was so great that it made the original artists seem less amazing.

Her Writing

Around 1778, Lady Lucan also published a powerful poem. It was called Verses on the Present State of Ireland. This poem was a strong protest against how Britain was treating Ireland at the time. It was published in Dublin under the pen name Lady L–n.