Difference between revisions of "John Bingham (Lord Clanmorris)"

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Revision as of 12:23, 5 June 2015

John Bingham, Lord Clanmorris, (1908-1988) also known as Michael Ward, was a British novelist and intelligence officer, reputed to be the inspiration for the character George Smiley, created by his former colleague David Cornwell (John Le Carré).[1]

Bingham joined MI5 in 1940.[2] During World War Two, he worked as Maxwell Knight's deputy in B5(b) section at 308 Hood House, Dolphin Square.[3]

Bingham rejoined MI5 in 1950 after two years on Fleet Street.[2]

According to Mike Hughes, Bingham became head of MI5's F4 agent-running section after Knight's retirement in the mid-1950s.[4]

Bingham inherited the title of Lord Clanmorris in 1960.[2]

He retired from MI5 in 1979.[2]



Notes

  1. Smiley's model, LA Times, 23 December 2007.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Man Who Was George Smiley: The Life of John Bingham, Andrew Lownie Literary Agency, accessed 5 June 2015.
  3. Anthony Masters, The Man who was M: The Life of Maxwell Knight, The real-like spymaster who inspired Ian Fleming, Grafton Books, p.101.
  4. Mike Hughes, Spies at Work, Chapter Nine.