Earl of Lucan

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Earl of Lucan was a title in the Peerage of Ireland 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.

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, and therefore allowed Earls of Lucan to sit in the House of Lords after the practice of electing representative peers from Ireland ceased. The Earl of Lucan also has a Baronetcy (of Castlebar, Co Mayo) created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia 7 June 1634.

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 became extinct.

Patrick Sarsfield's great nephew, Charles Bingham had the title re-created in 1795. Since legal questions had existed over whether James II was still king when awarding the title and so entitled to ennoble Sarsfield, Charles Bingham is usually known as the 1st Earl of Lucan. Patrick Sarsfield is often referred to simply as the Earl of Lucan.

The title became notorious after the disappearance in 1974 of the 7th Earl. In his absence Lord Lucan was found guilty of the murder of Mrs Sandra Rivett by a Coroner's Jury in June 1975. 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. Lord Bingham petitioned to take his father's seat in the House of Lords in 1999 but was refused by the Lord Chancellor. Later the High Court, on an application made by the Bingham family, declared Lucan officially dead but did not issue a death certificate. Whether he is actually dead or not remains a mystery and the title still in limbo.

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.

The turn of phrase 'Where's Lord Lucan?' is a modern aphorism that applies to frequently elusive people. It was coined by the project manager during an infamous construction meeting in Liverpool, where the famous architect Robert Barnes never showed up.