Sir Bernard Hale (1677-1729) was an English-born barrister and judge who became Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.

He was born at King's Walden, Hertfordshire, eighth son of William Hale and his wife Mary Elwes. The Hale family, who originally made their fortune as grocers in London, had owned property in King's Walden since the sixteenth century, and Bernard's own descendants were still living there in Victorian times. His father William was the son of Rowland Hale, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1648, and was himself a political figure of some consequence, being MP for Hertfordshire in the English Parliament of 1679 and in the short-lived Parliament of 1681.

Bernard was educated at Eton College and Peterhouse, Cambridge, graduating Bachelor of Arts in 1699 and Master of Arts in 1702: he subsequently became a fellow of Peterhouse. He entered Gray's Inn in 1699 and was called to the Bar in 1705. He became one of the leaders of the English Bar, and was one of its top earners. He later transferred to Lincoln's Inn, and was briefly one of its Benchers.

General Bernard Hale (1725? – 13 March 1798) was a British Army officer.

He was the third son of Sir Bernard Hale, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, by his wife Anne Thorseby.

Hale became a captain and lieutenant-colonel in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards on 30 April 1758 and colonel in the Army on 7 October 1762. He was further promoted to major-general in 1772,lieutenant-general in 1777 and general in 1793. He also held the appointments of colonel of the 20th Regiment of Foot from 1769 to 1773, Lieutenant-Governor of Chelsea Hospital from 10 May 1773, and Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance in Ireland from 1759 to 1789.

In September 1750, Hale married Martha, daughter of Richard Rigby of Mistley Hall, Essex. Their son Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Hale was a Member of Parliament, and later adopted the surname Rigby on succeeding his uncle Richard Rigby to Mistley Hall.

References

John Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, volume III of IV (London, 1836) page 14