Family and Education

b. 21 Mar. 1760, o.s. of Spencer Compton. educ. Westminster 1768-70; Ealing sch.; Trinity, Camb. 1776. m. 18 Aug. 1787, Maria, da. of Joshua Smith of Eriestoke Park, Wilts., 3s. 1da. suc. fa. as 9th Earl of Northampton 7 Apr. 1796;  cr. Mq. of Northampton 7 Sept. 1812.

Offices Held

Ld. lt. Northants. 1796- d.

Biography

Lord Compton was meant to stand for Northampton at the general election which normally would have been held in the spring of 1781, by which time he would have been of age. When Parliament was suddenly dissolved on 1 Sept. 1780, he still canvassed the borough together with Lord Althorp on 4 and 5 Sept.;1 but next it was obviously thought inadvisable for him to stand while still a minor, and on 9 Sept. his cousin George Rodney was returned in his place on the understanding that ‘he is to resign whenever Lord Compton pleases’.2

At the contested election for Northampton in 1784 Lord Compton came out head of the poll. He was classed by William Adam as a supporter of Pitt, and on 23 Jan. 1787 moved the Address (his only recorded speech during his first Parliament). On 18 Apr. 1785 he voted for Pitt’s motion for parliamentary reform, but does not appear in any other division list before 1790.

He died 24 May 1828.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

• 1. Canvass bk. Compton ms 1061, in the possession of the Marquess of Northampton.
• 2. Compton ms 1132.