Elizabeth Compton, Countess of Northampton

Who was Elizabeth Compton, Countess of Northampton?

Elizabeth Compton, Countess of Northampton, suo jure 14th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley, was a British peeress.

Elizabeth was the daughter of the Hon. Robert Shirley, eldest son of Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers. After the deaths of her father and her brother, Elizabeth became her grandfather's heiress apparent. She married James Compton, Lord Compton in 1716; on her grandfather's death in 1717, she succeeded him as Baroness Ferrers of Chartley, and became Countess of Northampton when her husband inherited the earldom in 1727.

She died in March 1741, aged 46, when her barony fell into abeyance between her daughters. However, the abeyance was terminated eight years later in favour of her daughter Charlotte. Lord Northampton died in 1754 and was succeeded in his junior title of Baron Compton by his daughter Charlotte. She was the wife of George Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend, later first Marquess Townshend.