COMPTON, Hon. George (1692-1758).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

30 Jan. - 5 Aug. 1727
1727 - 3 Oct. 1754

Family and Education

b. 1692, 2nd s. of George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton, by Jane, da. of Sir Stephen Fox of Farley, Wilts. educ. Eton 1706-7. m. 5 Mar. 1748, Frances, da. of Rev. Thomas Payne, s.p. suc. bro. as 6th Earl 3 Oct. 1754.

Offices Held

Cornet, R. Horse Gds. 1707; guidon and maj. 2 Life Gds. 1713; res. 1715; ld. of Treasury Feb. 1742-Dec. 1744.

Biography

George Compton, described by Horace Walpole as ‘a very silent person’,2 was brought in for Tamworth and Northampton by his brother, the 5th Earl of Northampton. He voted consistently against the Government till Walpole’s fall, when he was made a lord of the Treasury, whose nominal head was his uncle, Lord Wilmington. When Pelham succeeded Wilmington in 1743 Compton was allowed to retain his office; but at the end of 1744 he was turned out with the rest of the Bath-Granville squadron. He was classed in 1746 as one of Bath’s followers and in 1747 as Opposition. He succeeded to the earldom of Northampton shortly before his death, 6 Dec. 1758.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. Also returned in 1734 for Tamworth.
  • 2. Notes to Horace Walpole's ms poems, ex. inf. W. S. Lewis.