A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bingham, John
BINGHAM. (Retired Commander, 1839. f-p., 16; h-p., 33.)
John Bingham, born 18 March, 1785, is second son of the late Rich. Bingham, Esq., of Alelcombe Bingham, co. Dorset, Colonel of Militia, by Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of John Rideout, Esq., of Dean’s Lease, in the same shire; younger brother of the late Major-Gen. Sir Geo. Rideout Bingham, K.C.B., K.T.S., Colonel of the Rifle Corps; and first cousin of Capt. Arth. Batt Bingham, R.N., who was drowned in 1830.
This officer entered the Navy, 22 Sept. 1798, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board La Minerve 42, commanded by the present Sir Geo. Cockburn, in which frigate he proceeded with convoy to the Mediterranean; where, on joining, as Midshipman, the Minotaur 74, Capt. Thos. Louis, he witnessed, in the Bay of Naples, the proceedings which led to the unfortunate execution of Prince Caraccioli. While in the same ship, under the flag of Lord Keith, he assisted at the siege of Genoa in 1800, and was employed, during the expedition of 1801 to Egypt, in landing part of the 42nd Highlanders in Aboukir Bay. In 1803, after conveying Lord Nelson from off Brest to the Mediterranean, in the Amphion 32, Capt. Thos. Masterman Hardy, he became attached with his Lordship to the Victory 100. He appears to have been next employed in the Agincourt 64, Capt. Thos. Briggs, and in the Ambuscade 32, and Canopus 80, flag-ships of Rear-Admiral Thos. Louis, under whom he accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies and back, in pursuit of the combined squadrons of France and Spain, in the summer of 1805, and then aided in the blockade of Cadiz. After acting for three months as Lieutenant of the Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall, Mr. Bingham obtained a commission, dated 5 Feb. 1806, and about the same period was appointed to the Endymion 40, Capts. Edw. Dumford King and Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel. In Feb. 1807, he assisted at the passage of the Dardanells, and, during the period the squadron lay off Constantinople, was employed in carrying nearly all the flags of truce. While reconnoitring in a boat off the island of Cephalonia, in the following September, he had the misfortune to be taken by some French privateers, and sent to France, where he was detained, the greater part of the time at Verdun, until the abdication of Buonaparte. Unable to procure further employment, he at length accepted the rank he now holds, 9 April, 1839.
He married, 22 Dec. 1824, Frances Eleanora, daughter of the Rev. Wm. Woollcombe, M.A., Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral, by Anne, sister of his old commander, Rear-Admiral Sir Thos. Louis, Bart., and aunt of the present Rear-Admiral Sir John Louis, Bart. He has issue two sons and a daughter.