Earl of Lucan

Earl of Lucan was a title in the Irish peerage which has been possessed by two related Irish families in creations of 1691 and 1795. The current holder is presumed to be Richard Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, who vanished in 1974.

Related Topics:
Irish - Peerage - Richard Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan - 1974

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The subsidiary titles associated with the Earldom are: Baron Lucan, of Castlebar in the County of Mayo (created 1776), and Baron Bingham, of Melcombe Bingham in the County of Dorset (1934). The first is in the Peerage of Ireland, the second in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
Castlebar - Peerage of Ireland - Peerage of the United Kingdom

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In 1691, Patrick Sarsfield, who had been one of King James II's senior Irish commanders during his battles in Ireland with William of Orange for the English, Scottish and Irish thrones (see Glorious Revolution) was given the title of Earl of Lucan. Sarsfield's son James Sarsfield died without an heir in 1718 and the title passed out of use.

Related Topics:
1691 - Patrick Sarsfield - James II - William of Orange - Glorious Revolution - Lucan - 1718

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Patrick Sarsfield's great nephew, Charles Bingham had the title restored in 1795. Due to the long period in which the title was in abeyance, and because legal questions had existed over whether James II was still king when awarding the title and so entitled to enoble Sarsfield, Charles Bingham is usually known as the 1st Earl of Lucan. Patrick Sarsfield is often referred to simply as the Earl of Lucan.

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The title became notorious after the disappearance in 1974 of the 7th Earl, who is suspected of the murder of his children's nanny. Lord Lucan's son and heir cannot inherit the Earldom until his father is declared legally dead. Thus, whilst Lord Lucan's whereabouts are unknown, his son remains known by his courtesy title, Lord Bingham. In 1999 the High Court, on an application made by the Bingham family, declared Lucan officially dead. Whether he is actually dead or not remains a mystery. In the meantime, Lord Bingham has assumed control of his father's estates, though his efforts to collect ground rent has proved controversial with those who previously paid ground rents to the Earls of Lucan but who had not done so since the 7th earl's disappearance.

Related Topics:
1974 - 7th Earl - Courtesy title - Lord Bingham - Ground rent

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