Arms of Compton: Sable, a Lion passant guardant Or, between three Esquire's Helmets Argent. Crest: On a Mount, a Beacon proper, behind it a Riband inscribed with the words "NISI DOMINUS" (If not God, nothing). Supporters: Dexter: a Dragon Ermine, ducally gorged and chained Or. Sinister: A Unicorn Argent, armed maned hoofed and tufted Sable.[1]
However, the title is chiefly associated with the Compton family. This family descends from
Sir Henry Compton, who in 1572 was
summoned to the
House of Lords as Baron Compton, of Compton in the County of Warwick. This title was in the Peerage of England. Lord Compton was later one of the peers at the trial of
Mary, Queen of Scots. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He served as Lord President of the Marches and of the Dominion of
Wales and was also
Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. In 1618 he was created Earl of Northampton in the Peerage of England.
His eldest son, the fifth Earl, briefly represented
Warwick in the
House of Commons but in 1711 he was summoned to the House of Lords through a
writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Compton. He married
Elizabeth, 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley. They had no sons and Lord Northampton was succeeded in the barony of Compton, which could be passed on through female lines, by his daughter
Lady Charlotte. The earldom passed to his younger brother, the sixth Earl. He had earlier represented
Tamworth and
Northampton in Parliament.
He was childless and was succeeded by his nephew, the seventh Earl. He was the son of the Hon. Charles Compton, third son of the fourth Earl. Lord Northampton died childless at an early age and was succeeded by his younger brother, the eighth Earl. He briefly represented Northampton in the House of Commons before he inherited the earldom and also served as
Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire. His son, the ninth Earl, sat as
Member of Parliament for Northampton and served as Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire. In 1812 he was created Baron Wilmington, of Wilmington in the County of Sussex, Earl Compton, of Compton in the County of Warwick, and Marquess of Northampton.[3] These titles were in the
Peerage of the United Kingdom.
On his death, the titles passed to his son, the second Marquess. He represented Northampton in Parliament but is best remembered as a patron of science and the arts. Between 1838 and 1848 he served as president of the
Royal Society. He was also instrumental in helping the new College of Preceptors (
College of Teachers) of London receive its Royal Charter. Lord Northampton married Margaret Douglas-Maclean-Clephane, daughter of Major-General Douglas Maclean Clephane. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the third Marquess. In 1831 he assumed by Royal licence the additional and principal surname of Douglas. When he died the titles were inherited by his younger brother, the fourth Marquess. He was an
admiral in the
Royal Navy. Lord Northampton assumed in 1851 by Royal licence the additional surname of Maclean and in 1878 upon succeeding to the titles that of Douglas.
He was succeeded by his second but eldest surviving son, the fifth Marquess. He represented
Stratford-on-Avon and
Barnsley in Parliament as a
Liberal and served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. As of 2017[update], the titles are held by his grandson, the seventh Marquess, who succeeded his father in 1978.
Several other members of the Compton family have gained distinction.
Henry Compton, sixth son of the second Earl of Northampton, was
Bishop of London.
Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington,
Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1742 to 1743, was the third son of the third Earl. Catherine Compton, daughter of the Hon. Charles Compton, third son of the fourth Earl, was created
Baroness Arden in 1770. She was the wife of
John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont, and the mother of another Prime Minister,
Spencer Perceval.
Lord Alwyne Compton, fourth son of the second Marquess, was
Bishop of Ely.
Lord Alwyne Compton, third son of the fourth Marquess, was a Unionist politician. He was the father of Captain Edward Robert Francis Compton. The latter married as his first wife Sylvia, daughter of Alexander Haldane Farquharson. Their son Alwyne Arthur Compton was officially recognised by warrant of the Lord Lyon in the surname of Farquharson of Invercauld and as Chief of
Clan Farquharson in 1949.
Estates
The Compton family are major land owners. Their two major estates are
Castle Ashby House in
Northamptonshire and
Compton Wynyates in
Warwickshire. The family also owns land and property, including the 16th-century
Canonbury Tower[4] in
Islington, north
London, where many streets are named after names associated with the family. These include: Alwyne Road/Place/Villas/Square; Bingham Street; Compton Road/Terrace; Douglas Road; Northampton Road/Street/Square; Spencer Street; Percival (formerly Perceval) Street; and
Wilmington Square.
The
heir apparent is the present holder's son, Daniel Bingham Compton, Earl Compton (
b. 1973)
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, Henry Douglas Hungerford Compton, Lord Wilmington (
b. 2018)
Line of succession (simplified)
William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton (1818–1897)
William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton (1851–1913)
William Compton, 6th Marquess of Northampton (1885–1978)
Spencer Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton (
b. 1946)
(1). Daniel Bingham Compton, Earl Compton (born 1973)
(2). Henry Douglas Hungerford Compton, Lord Wilmington (born 2018)