William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton

Who was William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton?

Admiral William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton, KG, known as Lord William Compton from 1828 to 1877, was a British peer and naval commander.

Northampton was born at York Place, Marylebone, London, the second son of Spencer Joshua Alwyne Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton, and his wife Margaret.

He entered in the Royal Navy in 1831, served during the First Opium War with China, and retired from the active list in 1856 as Captain. He was subsequently promoted Rear Admiral in 1869, and Admiral in 1888 on the retired list.

In 1877 he succeeded his elder brother in the marquessate and entered the House of Lords. Northampton was honoured in 1885 when he was made a Knight of the Garter.

He assumed in 1851 by Royal license the additional surname of Maclean and in 1878 upon succeeding to the titles that of Douglas.

Lord Northampton married Eliza, daughter of Admiral the Hon. Sir George Elliot, in 1844. She died in 1877. Together they had five daughters and three sons.

Their eldest daughter, Katrine, married Francis Cowper, 7th Earl Cowper.

Their eldest son Charles John Spencer Compton, Earl Compton, died in 1887, without heirs. Lord Northampton survived his wife by twenty years and died in September 1897, aged 78. He was succeeded in his titles by his second son William.