Henry Bellingham

Identified in the lower margin as ‘H. Bellingham in fancy dress,’ the sitter is identified on the album page as 'A. Henry Bellingham Esq. in costume.’

Born on 23 August 1846 at Castle Bellingham in County Louth, Alan Henry Bellingham — who usually went by his middle name of Henry — was the son of Sir Alan Edward Bellingham, 3rd Baronet of Castle Bellingham.

He was educated at Harrow and at Exeter College, Oxford (BA, 1868; MA, 1872). He was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn in 1875. He gained the rank of Captain in the Royal Irish Rifles, 6th Battalion. He was the Member of Parliament for County Louth from 1880 to 1885. He also held the office of Privy Chamberlain to several popes, namely Pius IX, Leo XIII and Pius X. On 19 April 1889 he succeeded his father and became the 4th Baronet Bellingham of Castle Bellingham.

He married firstly Lady Constance Julia Eleanor Georgiana Noel, daughter of Charles George Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough. This married produced four children, including a daughter who married the Marquess of Bute and another daughter who became a nun. Lady Constance Bellingham died, aged 43, on 8 April 1891 at Castle Bellingham.

After his first wife’s death, Sir Alan Henry Bellingham married secondly on 11 June 1895 the Honourable Lelgarde Harry Florence Clifton, daughter of Augustus Wykeham Clifton.

Sir Alan Henry Bellingham died on 9 June 1921.

Photographed by Hills and Saunders of Oxford.