| John Bingham | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Michael Ward Bingham 3 November 1908 Haywards Heath, Sussex, England |
| Died | 6 August 1988 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Spouse | Madeleine Mary Ebel (1934–1988) |
| Children | Simon Bingham, 8th Baron Clanmorris (b. 1937) Charlotte Bingham (b. 1942) |
| Parents | Arthur Bingham, 6th Baron Clanmorris and Mowbray Leila Cloete |
John Michael Ward Bingham, 7th Baron Clanmorris (3 November 1908 – 6 August 1988) was an English novelist who published 17 thrillers, detective novels and spy novels. During the Second World War he worked for MI5, and was reportedly the inspiration for John LeCarre's character George Smiley.[1]
Bingham was recruited into MI5 by Maxwell Knight to work in the counter-intelligence and political infiltration based M Section. He had volunteered to serve in the army but a sight defect prevented him from serving in the field. Prior to his service in MI5, Bingham had been the Art Editor of the Sunday Dispatch.[2]
Bingham was the son of Arthur Bingham, 6th Baron Clanmorris and Mowbray Leila Cloete. He was educated at Cheltenham College, and married Madeleine Mary Ebel, daughter of Clement Ebel, on 28 July 1934. He fought in the Second World War, with the Royal Engineers and attached to the General Staff. He succeeded to the title of 7th Baron Clanmorris on 24 June 1960.
His first novel, My Name is Michael Sibley (1952), is unusual for its time in suggesting that the British police might not always play fair.[3]
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Arthur Morris Robert Bingham |
Baron Clanmorris 1960–1988 |
Succeeded by Simon John Ward Bingham |