A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bingham, Henry Hope
BINGHAM. (Commander, 1840. f-p., 27; h-p., 7.)
Henry Hope Bingham, whose family is a branch of that of Bingham of Melcombe Bingham, co. Dorset, is second son of the Rev. Rich. Bingham, Canon of Chichester, Vicar of Hale Magna, in the diocese of Lincoln, and Incumbent of Gosport Church, by Lydia Mary Ann, eldest daughter of the late Rear-Admiral Sir Chas. Douglas, R.N., and sister of the late Vice-Admiral Sir Wm. Hen. Douglas, Bart., as also of the present Lieut.-General Sir Howard Douglas, Bart., G.C.M.G.[1] He is elder brother of Commander J. E. Bingham, R.N.; nephew of the late Rear-Admiral Joseph Bingham, and of Rear-Admiral Donald Campbell, R.N.; and cousin of Commander P. D. Bingham, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 30 Dec. 1813, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Rosamond 28, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Donald Campbell, whom he accompanied with convoy to Hudson’s Bay. He afterwards joined in succession – the Leven 22, Capt. Buckland Stirling Bluett, employed in 1815 in co-operating with the Royalists in La Vendée – the Rivoli 74, Capts. Sir Chas. Ogle and Aiskew Paffard Hollis, guard-ship at Portsmouth, in which he attained the rating of Midshipman – the Carron 20, Capt. John Furneaux, under whom, as Master’s Mate, he was wrecked, in the Bay of Bengal, on the night of 5 July, 1820, and, with others, cast senseless on the beach – the Queen Charlotte 104, flag-ship of Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed at Portsmouth, where he passed his examination 1 Aug. 1821 – the Seringapatam 44, Capt. Chas. Sotheby, in the boats of which frigate we find him, as Mate, repeatedly employed in the suppression of piracy in the Grecian Archipelago – and the Warspite 76, fitting at Portsmouth, towards the close of 1825, for the flag of his uncle, Rear-Admiral Bingham, whose premature death, when on the point of sailing, proved in a great measure detrimental to his prospects. On 3 Jan. 1826, however, Mr. Bingham was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and on 18 Nov. 1828, was appointed to the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye, lying in Newhaven harbour for the purposes of the extended Coast Blockade. In that ship he continued until 24 March, 1831, and experienced during the period much arduous boat-service. From 8 May, 1833, until 17 June, 1836, he next served as Senior of the Larne 18, Capt. Wm. Sidney Smith, on the West India station, where he appears to have been very actively employed, the latter part of the time, in protecting the British mercantile interests on the coasts of New Granada and Venezuela, then in a state of insurrection. The Larne was also present throughout the siege of Puerto Caballo by Gen. Paez. On 16 Feb. 1837, Mr. Bingham joined the Princess Charlotte 104, bearing the flag in the Mediterranean of Sir Robt. Stopford, and for his services, as First Lieutenant of that ship, during the operations on the coast of Syria, particularly at the capture of St. Jean d’Acre, was advanced to the rank of Commander 4 Nov. 1840; and appointed, 15 Dec. following, her Second Captain. He was paid off 30 July, 1841, but was soon afterwards, on 28 of the next month, selected to act in the latter capacity on board the Formidable 84, Capts. Sir Edw. Thos. Troubridge and Sir Chas. Sullivan, likewise in the Mediterranean. Under the latter officer, in March, 1814, Commander Bingham witnessed the settlement of the Greek Constitution at Athens. He was turned over, on 23 April ensuing, with the rest of the officers of the Formidable, to the Queen 110, and in July of the same year was paid off. He has been employed, since 23 Dec. 1845, as an Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard.
Commander Bingham was presented with the Gold Cross of the order of the Saviour of Greece, but existing regulations prevented his acceptance of it. Agent – Frederick Dufaur.
- ↑ Sir Chas. Douglas was created a Baronet in 1777, for the extraordinarily service he had rendered, the year before, in forcing a passage for his squadron through the ice in the River St. Lawrence to the relief of Quebec, then closely besieged by the Americans. He served as Captain of the Fleet in Rodney’s action of 12 April, 1782, and to him is attributed the advice which induced that nobleman to establish the precedent of breaking the enemy’s line – a main cause of the signal victory which that day attended the British arms.