The Honourable Rosie Bingham

A cabinet card signed ‘Rosie E. Bingham’ verso in ink and dated ‘May 9th 79.’ A pencilled inscription in a different hand identifies the sitter as ‘Hon. Miss Bingham.'

Born on 10 February 1858, the Honourable Rose Elizabeth Bingham was the youngest daughter of John Charles Robert Bingham, 4th Baron Clanmorris of Newbrook, and his wife Sarah Selina née Persse.

On 29 September 1885 at ‘St John’s Church, Eyre Court, county Galway,’ she married ‘Colonel Hugh McCalmont, C.B., [of the] 7th Hussars, eldest son of the late James McCalmont, Esq., of Abbeylands, country Antrim’ (Hampshire Advertiser, 3 October 1885).

Her husband was Lord Woleseley’s aide-de-camp in the Ashantee expedition of 1872. He was later Major-General Sir Hugh McCalmont, K.C.B. In 1907 he was given the Colonelcy of the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, a position he held until his death on 2 May 1924.

The Honourable Lady Rose Elizabeth McCalmont died on 28 April 1935.

‘The Hon. Lady Rose Elizabeth McCalmont, whose death at Funchal, Madeira, is reported, was a great sportswoman, and represented a genial type that is gradually disappearing. […] She was one of the keenest followers of hounds in the British Isles, and was always a central figure wherever hunting people foregathered. He unassuming manner and charm of character, and her all-round sporting qualities endeared her to everyone. At the age of 74 years she took over the Mastership of the Kildare Hounds in 1932, and during her term of office showed excellent sport. It must be unique in the annals of hunting for a lady of such advanced years to undertake the onerous duties that such a position entails but that she was qualified for it was proved by the success which attended her Mastership. […] Mr Harold Clarke, of the Turf Club, Dublin, speaking of the late Lady McCalmont said: “She was a great sportswoman, and I could not say too much about her lovable personality. She was one of the old style, who mixed freely with everyone and did wonderful work in taking over the Kildares. She will be sadly missed by her many friends”’ (Waterford Standard, 4 May 1935).

Photographed by Chancellor of Dublin.