View source for Marquess of Northampton

{{Short description|Title in the British peerage}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox nobility title
| name              = Marquessate of Northampton 
| image             = [[File:Coronet of a British Marquess.svg|150px]]<br />[[File:Coat of arms of the Marquess of Northampton.svg|180px]] 
| image_size        =  
| alt               =  
| caption           = 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.''<ref>Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.843, Marguess of Northampton</ref>
| creation_date     = 7 September 1812
| creation          = Second
| monarch           = [[George IV|The Prince Regent]] (acting on behalf of his father [[George III|King George III]])
| peerage           = [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]] <small>(second creation)</small> 
| baronetage        =  
| first_holder      = [[William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton]] <small>(first creation)</small> <br /> [[Charles Compton, 1st Marquess of Northampton|Charles Compton, 9th Earl of Northampton]] <small>(second creation)</small> 
| last_holder       =  
| present_holder    = [[Spencer Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton]]<small> (second creation)</small> 
| heir_apparent     = Daniel Compton, Earl Compton 
| heir_presumptive  =  
| remainder_to      = Heirs male of the body, lawfully begotten 
| subsidiary_titles = Earl of Northampton <small>(fourth creation)</small> <br />Earl Compton <br />Baron Wilmington 
| status            = Extinct <small>(first creation)</small> <br /> Extant <small>(second creation)</small> 
| extinction_date   = 28 October 1571 <small>(first creation)</small> 
| family_seat       = [[Castle Ashby House]] <br />[[Compton Wynyates]] 
| former_seat       =  
| motto             = '''JE NE CHERCHE QU'UN''' <br /> ''(I seek but one)''<ref>''Debrett's Peerage'', 1840, p.548</ref> 
| footnotes         =  
}}
[[File:Coat of arms of Sir William Parr, Marquess of Northampton, KG.png|thumb|Arms of William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton <small>(first creation)</small>]]
'''Marquess of Northampton''' is a title that has been created twice, firstly in the [[Peerage of England]] (1547), then secondly in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]] (1812). The current holder of this title is [[Spencer Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton]].

==First creation==
The title of [[Marquess]] of [[Northampton]] was created for the first time in the [[Peerage of England]] in 1547 in favour of [[William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton|William Parr]], brother of [[Catherine Parr]], the sixth and last wife of [[Henry VIII of England|King Henry VIII]]. The title was forfeited in 1554 after the accession of [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary]] but restored in 1559 by [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]]. On Parr's death in 1571, the title became extinct.

==Second creation==
However, the title is chiefly associated with the Compton family. This family descends from [[Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton|Sir Henry Compton]], who in 1572 was [[Hereditary peer#Writs of summons|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, [[William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton|the second Baron]], the later first Earl. 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 son, [[Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton|the second Earl]], was a supporter of [[James I of England|King James I]] and served as Master of the Robes to [[Charles I of England|Charles, Prince of Wales]] (later King Charles I). He fought in the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] and was killed at the [[Battle of Hopton Heath]] in 1643. He was succeeded by his son, [[James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton|the third Earl]]. He also fought as a Royalist in the Civil War and notably commanded the cavalry at the [[First Battle of Newbury]] in 1643. Lord Northampton was also [[Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire]] and [[Constable of the Tower of London]]. His eldest son, [[George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton|the fourth Earl]], also served as Constable of the Tower of London and as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire.

His eldest son, [[James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton|the fifth Earl]], briefly represented [[Warwick (UK Parliament constituency)|Warwick]] in the [[British House of Commons|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 Compton, 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley|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 [[Charlotte Townshend, 16th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley|Lady Charlotte]]. The earldom passed to his younger brother, [[George Compton, 6th Earl of Northampton|the sixth Earl]]. He had earlier represented [[Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Tamworth]] and [[Northampton (UK Parliament constituency)|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'''.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=16632 |date=15 August 1812 |page=1579}}</ref> 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 (UK Parliament constituency)|Stratford-on-Avon]] and [[Barnsley (UK Parliament constituency)|Barnsley]] in Parliament as a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] and served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. {{As of|2017}}, the titles are held by his grandson, the seventh Marquess, who succeeded his father in 1978.

'''Northampton Institute''', founded in 1894, was named after [[William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton]] and now it is [[City, University of London]] (formerly '''The City University''').

===Other notable members of the Compton family===
Several other members of the Compton family have gained distinction. [[Henry Compton (bishop)|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 (bishop)|Lord Alwyne Compton]], fourth son of the second Marquess, was [[Bishop of Ely]]. [[Lord Alwyne Compton (politician)|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===
[[Image:CastleAshby.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Castle Ashby House]] in Northamptonshire]]
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 House and Canonbury Tower|Canonbury Tower]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canonbury.ac.uk/tower.htm |title=About us &#124; Canonbury Masonic Research Centre |publisher=Canonbury.ac.uk |access-date=2012-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219074020/http://www.canonbury.ac.uk/tower.htm |archive-date=2011-12-19 }}</ref> 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]].

==Marquesses of Northampton; First creation (1547)==
*[[William Parr, Marquess of Northampton]] (1513–1571) (forfeit 1553; restored 1559; extinct 1571)

==Barons Compton (1572)==
*[[Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton]] (1554-1589)
*[[William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton|William Compton, 2nd Baron Compton]] (died 1630) (created '''Earl of Northampton''' in 1618)

==Earls of Northampton (1618)==
: ''Subsidiary title [[Baron Compton]] through the 5th Earl.''
*[[William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton]], '''2nd Baron Compton''' (died 1630)
*[[Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton]], '''3rd Baron Compton''' (1601–1643)
*[[James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton]], '''4th Baron Compton''' (1622–1681)
*[[George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton]], '''5th Baron Compton''' (1664–1727)
*[[James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton]], '''6th Baron Compton''' (1687–1754)
** [[Charlotte Townshend, Viscountess Townshend|Charlotte Townshend]], '''7th Baroness Compton''' ({{Died in|1770}}), Barony Compton continued with her descendents
*[[George Compton, 6th Earl of Northampton]] (1692–1758)
*[[Charles Compton, 7th Earl of Northampton]] (1737–1763)
*[[Spencer Compton, 8th Earl of Northampton]] (1738–1796)
*[[Charles Compton, 1st Marquess of Northampton|Charles Compton, 9th Earl of Northampton]] (1760–1828) (created '''Marquess of Northampton''', '''Earl Compton''', and '''Baron Wilmington''' in 1812)

==Marquesses of Northampton; Second creation (1812)==
* [[Charles Compton, 1st Marquess of Northampton]], '''1st Earl Compton, 1st Baron Wilmington''' (1760–1828)
* [[Spencer Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton|Spencer Joshua Alwyne Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton]], '''2nd Earl Compton, 2nd Baron Wilmington''' (1790–1851)
* [[Charles Douglas-Compton, 3rd Marquess of Northampton]], '''3rd Earl Compton, 3rd Baron Wilmington''' (1816–1877)
* [[William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton]], '''4th Earl Compton, 4th Baron Wilmington''' (1818–1897)
* [[William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton|William George Spencer Scott Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton]], '''5th Earl Compton, 5th Baron Wilmington''' (1851–1913)
* [[William Compton, 6th Marquess of Northampton|William Bingham Compton, 6th Marquess of Northampton]], '''6th Earl Compton, 6th Baron Wilmington''' (1885–1978)
* [[Spencer Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton|Spencer Douglas David Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton]], '''7th Earl Compton, 7th Baron Wilmington''' ({{Born in|1946}})

The [[heir apparent]] is the present holder's son, Daniel Bingham Compton, Earl Compton ({{Born in|1973}})<br/>
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, Henry Douglas Hungerford Compton, Lord Wilmington ({{Born in|2018}})

{{Collapse top|title={{Small|Line of succession (simplified)}}}}
{{Tree list}}
* [[File:Coronet of a British Marquess.svg|35px]] ''William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton (1818–1897)''
** [[File:Coronet of a British Marquess.svg|35px]] ''William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton (1851–1913)''
*** [[File:Coronet of a British Marquess.svg|35px]] ''William Compton, 6th Marquess of Northampton (1885–1978)''
**** [[File:Coronet of a British Marquess.svg|35px]] '''Spencer Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton''' ({{Born in|1946}})
***** '''(1).''' Daniel Bingham Compton, Earl Compton (born 1973)
****** '''(2).''' Henry Douglas Hungerford Compton, Lord Wilmington (born 2018)
**** ''Lord William James Bingham Compton (1947–2007)''
***** '''(3).''' James William Compton ({{Born in|1974}})
****** '''(4).''' William Edward Richard Compton ({{Born in|2010}})
** ''[[Lord Alwyne Compton (politician)|Lord Alwyne Frederick Compton]] (1855–1911)''
*** ''Edward Robert Francis Compton (1891–1977)''
**** ''Robert Edward John Compton (1922–2009)''
*****male issue and descendants in remainder
{{Tree list/end}}
<ref>{{Cite book |year=2019|chapter=Northampton, Marquess of |editor1-last=Morris |editor1-first=Susan |editor2-last=Bosberry-Scott |editor2-first=Wendy |editor3-last=Belfield |editor3-first=Gervase |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage|volume=1 |edition=150th |location=London |publisher=Debrett's Ltd. |pages=3849–3853 |arxiv= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn=978-1-9997-6705-1}}</ref>
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==Family tree==
{{Marquess of Northampton family tree}}

==See also==
*[[Baron Compton]]
*[[Baroness Arden]]
*[[Earl of Northampton]]
*[[Earl of Wilmington]]
* [[Marquess]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, {{Page needed |date=February 2013}}
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Northampton, Earls and Marquesses of|volume=19|pages=765–767}}

{{Extant British marquesses}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Northampton}}
[[Category:Extinct marquessates in the Peerage of England]]
[[Category:Marquessates in the Peerage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Compton family|Marquess]]
[[Category:Marquesses of Northampton| ]]
[[Category:Marquesses of Northampton (1812 creation)| ]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1547]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1812]]