Bernard Hale (British Army officer)

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.