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 country against the Spaniards. But before the close of 1588 he had resumed his post in Connaught, and in September he issued orders that all Spanish refugees landing on the coast of his province should be brought to Galway and there put to death. He afterwards claimed to have thus rid his country of 1,000 of the enemy. In 1590–1 Bingham was engaged in repressing the revolt of Sir Bryan O'Rourke, of Leitrim, who was captured, sent to England, and hanged at Tyburn on 28 Oct. 1591. Bingham's account of his proceedings against Rourke is printed in the 'Egerton Papers' (Camden Soc., pp. 144–57). In the following year Perrot formally complained to the queen of Bingham's habitual severity and insubordination, and in September 1596 Bingham, fearful that his adversaries would do him serious injury, hurriedly came to England to appeal (as he said) for justice. He left Ireland without leave, and on arriving in London was sent to the Fleet prison. On 2 Oct. 1596 he addressed a piteous letter to Burghley, praying for release. This petition was apparently granted soon afterwards, but Bingham was suspended from his office. The outbreak of O'Neill's rebellion in 1598 induced the authorities to reinstate him. His knowledge of Irish affairs was judged to be without parallel in England, and when the Cecils first suggested that Essex should command the expedition against the Irish rebels Bacon strongly urged Essex to take Bingham's advice ( Bacon, ii. 95–6). In September 1598 Bingham left England with five thousand men to assume the office of marshal of Ireland, vacated by the death in the battle at Blackwater of Sir Henry Bagnall. But Bingham had scarcely entered on his new duties when he died at Dublin on 19 Jan. 1598–9.

A cenotaph was erected to his memory in the south aisle of the choir of Westminster Abbey by Sir John Bingley, at one time Bingham's servant. On it was inscribed a highly laudatory account of his military achievements. Sir Henry Docwra, afterwards commander of the forces in Ireland, drew up a 'relation' of Bingham's early services in Connaught, which was published for the first time by the Celtic Society in 1849. The manuscript is in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. Bingham was described by Sir Nicholas Lestrange as 'a man eminent both for spiritt and martiall knowledge, but of a very small stature' ( Anecdotes and Traditions (Camden Society), p. 18).

Sir Richard was aided in his Irish administration by two younger brothers, George and John. Both were assistant commissioners in Connaught. John distinguished himself in the battle with the Highlanders by the Moy, and was granted by his brother Edmund Burke's castle of Castlebarry, near Castlebar. George was for many years sheriff of Sligo, took a leading part in the massacre of the Spaniards in 1588, and was killed by Ulrick O'Rourke in 1595. Bingham's memory was long execrated by the native Irish, but Sir Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Henry Wallop always held him in high esteem. Sir Richard married Sarah, daughter of John Heigham, of Gifford's Hall, Wickhambrook, Suffolk (by banns), 11 Jan. 1587–8. Lady Bingham survived her husband, and married after his death Edward Waldegrave, of Lawford, Essex. She died at Lawford, and was buried in the church there 9 Sept. 1634, aged 69. Sir Richard left no male issue, and he was succeeded in his of his Dorsetshire estates by Henry, the eldest son of his brother George, who had been killed in 1596. Henry was created a Nova Scotian baronet in 1634. Sir John Bingham, the fifth in descent from George, was governor of county Mayo, and contributed to William III's success in Ireland by deserting from James II at the battle of Aughrim (1691). He married a grand-niece of Patrick Sarsfield, earl of Lucan, and died in 1749. His second son Charles was created baron Lucan of Castlebar 24 July 1776, and earl of Lucan 6 Oct. 1795 [see ].

 BINGHAM, RICHARD, the elder (1765–1858), divine, was born 1 April 1765. He was son of the Rev. Isaac Moody Bingham, rector of Birchanger and Runwell, Essex, and great-grandson of Joseph Bingham, author of the 'Origines Ecclesiasticæ.' He was educated successively at Winchester, where he was on the foundation, and at New College, Oxford, where he took the degrees respectively of B.A. 19 Oct. 1787 and B.C.L. 18 July 1801 (Oxford Graduate). He was married at Bristol to Lydia Mary Anne, eldest daughter of Rear-admiral Sir Charles Douglas, bart., 10 Nov. 1788, at which time he was a fellow of his college and in holy orders (Gent. Mag. November 1788). In 