{{short description|(1796-1882) sailor, merchant and landholder}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}{{Use Australian English|date=November 2020}}
'''John Bingle''' (1796–1882) was an English-born sailor who became a businessman and landowner in Newcastle, New South Wales.
== Early life == John Bingle was born on 15 May 1796<ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Gray|first=Nancy|title=Bingle, John (1796–1882)|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bingle-john-1780|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography|place=Canberra|publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|access-date=2020-11-25}}</ref> in Gillingham, Kent, England.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=1921-12-16|title=CAPTAIN JOHN BINGLE.|pages=5|work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954)|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139921444|access-date=2020-11-25}}</ref> He was the only surviving son of John Rayden Bingle.<ref name=":0" /> He was educated at Chatham.<ref name=":0" /> He was employed in the naval dockyard from 1812 to 1817 when he joined the merchant marine, namely the East India Company.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Arriving in Australia == Bingle arrived in Australia at the age of 25 as a second officer on the convict ship ''Minerva'' on 16 December 1821.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=John Bingle|url=https://www.jenwilletts.com/john_bingle.htm|access-date=2020-11-25|website=www.jenwilletts.com}}</ref> Soon after, he went to Lake Macquarie with Rev. George Augustus Middleton.<ref name=":2" />
== Surveying Port Macquarie == In January 1822 received instruction from Governor Brisbane to proceed on the ship ''Sally'' to Port Macquarie then to sail to search for a large river that was believed to exist between Port Macquarie and Sandy Cape.<ref name=":2" /> He was commissioned by Governor to go as far as Moreton Bay.<ref name=":0" /> He failed to discover fresh water but received permission to build a vessel for trade with Newcastle.<ref name=":0" />
== Puen Buen == He acquired 1800 acres of land which he named Puen Buen in 1820s.<ref name=":2" /> He became a squatter on property which is located at Dartbrook.<ref name=":1" /> Drought caused him to sell his land and start businesses in Newcastle.<ref name=":1" /> Later he sold his land to John Robertson.<ref name=":2" />
== Business == He became business partners with Robert Coram Dillon and established a business at No.2 Watt Street, Newcastle.<ref name=":2" /> His business was dissolved in 1824.<ref name=":2" /> Bingle & Co established the first regular trading service between Sydney and Newcastle in 1822, carrying coal, cedar and merchandise in the ''Sally.''<ref name=":0" /> Bingle sold his interest in venture after convicts stole his ship, the ''Eclipse.''<ref name=":0" /> Five years after selling Puen Buen, he became director of two banks, a member of the diocesan committee of Christ Church and chairman of the Exchange.<ref name=":0" />
== Other achievements == After he retired from His Majesty's services he applied for leave to build a vessel for the coal called the ''Eclipse.''<ref name=":1" /> He worked as magistrate and was famous for catching a bushranger in Scone.<ref name=":1" /> He built the first courthouse in 1832 in Scone.<ref name=":0" /> He became the first chairman of the chamber of commerce in 1856.<ref name=":1" /> He designed the coat of arms of the City of Newcastle and had a key role in the adoption of the New South Wales flag.<ref name=":1" /> The first telegraph from Sydney to Newcastle on 11 January 1860 was sent from his office.<ref name=":0" />
== Personal life == In August 1824 in Hobart Bingle married Mary Cross.<ref name=":0" /> They had a son and two daughters.<ref name=":0" /> He gave many donations to church and hospital funds.<ref name=":0" /> He moved his family to England in 1837,<ref name=":0" /> but returned to Australia in 1842.<ref name=":2" />
Bingle died on 10 April 1882 at age 80.<ref name=":2" /> He was highly respected in Newcastle and flags were flown at half-mast in his honour.<ref name=":2" /> He was buried in the Christ Church graveyard.<ref name=":0" />
== References == <references />
== External links ==
* [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99183959420902061 Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877], State Library of Queensland- includes digitised letters written by Bingle to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blingle, John}} Category:1796 births Category:1882 deaths Category:Australian merchants Category:19th-century Australian businesspeople Category:British emigrants to the Colony of New South Wales