Bingham was born in Dorset to Richard Bingham and his wife Alice, and was the eldest of three brothers. Little is known of his early life, but he had embarked upon a military career before turning twenty, despite his small stature. He took part in Protector Somerset's Scottish expedition in 1547. A decade later, he served with the Spanish against the French at the battle of St. Quentin. In October of the following year, 1558, he took part in a naval expedition in the Western Isles in Scotland.