A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bingham, John Elliot
BINGHAM. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 24; h-p., 3.)
John Elliot Bingham is fourth son of the Rev. Rich. Bingham; and younger brother of Commander H. H. Bingham, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 23 Sept. 1820, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Esk 20, Capts. Edw. Lloyd and Arth. Lee Warner, on the West India station; became Midshipman, in 1823-4, of the Queen Charlotte 104, and Victory 104, flagships at Portsmouth of Admirals Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed and Sir Geo. Martin – next, of the Herald yacht, Capt. Sir Hen. John Leeke, engaged on Particular Service – and ultimately of the Warspite 78, and Boadicea 46, bearing the flag in the East Indies of Rear-Admiral Wm. Hall Gage; and on 23 Sept. 1826, passed his examination. He subsequently, for three years, commanded the Cochin flag-tender; and during that period was much employed in suppressing piracy in the Straits of Malacca. He returned home in 1831, as Acting-Lieutenant of the Success 28, Capt. Wm. Clarke Jervoise; and, after a further servitude, as Mate, in the Victory, Capt. Hyde Parker, and Excellent gunnery-ship, Capt. Thos. Hastings, was presented with a commission, dated 28 July, 1832, and appointed, 20 Oct. following, to the Southampton 50, Capt. John Milligan Laws, on the North Sea station. On 11 May, 1833, he joined the Donegal 72, in which ship (after bringing Don Carlos to England) and in the Hastings 74, bearing each the flag of Sir W. H. Gage, he continued to serve off Lisbon, including the latter part of Don Miguel’s ascendancy, for nearly five years. On the occasion of the wreck of the Portuguese corvette Portuense near the mouth of the Tagus, he had charge of the boats which saved the crew. The Hastings returned home, and was paid off in Jan. 1838. On 25 July following Lieut. Bingham was appointed Senior of the Modeste 18, Capt. Harry Eyres, and, during the three years he remained in that sloop, was at Mexico pending the dispute between that republic and the French government – went to New York with despatches for the British Minister at Washington relative to the Maine boundary question – rendered much effective assistance in destroying the slave traffic in the Mozambique Channel – led, during the expedition to China, the storming party at the taking of the fort of Tycocktow, 7 Jan. 1841 – was struck, three days afterwards, in consequence of the springing of a mine, by a large stone, which caused a violent contusion of the hip and fracture of both bones of the right leg[1] – and in May witnessed the capture and ransom of Canton. For the latter service he was advanced to his present rank, by commission dated 6 July, 1841. He has been in command, since 14 Dec. 1844, of the Acorn 16, on the S.E. coast of America.
Commander Bingham, who, previously to joining the Acorn, had been for some time a student at the R.N. College, is author of a ‘Narrative of the Expedition to China.’ Although crippled from his wounds, he receives no pension. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1841, p. 1221.