Spencer Joshua Alwyne Compton, 2nd Marquess of NorthamptonFRSFGS (2 January 1790 – 17 January 1851), known as Lord Compton from 1796 to 1812 and as Earl Compton from 1812 to 1828, was a British nobleman and patron of science and the arts.
On 24 July 1815, he married Margaret Maclean Clephane, eldest daughter of Major-general Douglas Maclean Clephane.[2]
In the Commons, Compton established a reputation as something of a maverick. Despite his family's strong Tory credentials, he often voted against the Tory government of the day. This led to his losing his seat in the general election of 1820.
After 1820 Compton took up residence in Italy, where his house became a centre of attraction, and exercised his influence in favour of many of the unfortunate victims of despotic authority both in Lombardy and in Naples. He returned to England in 1830, and became a prominent figure in political and cultural life. He supported the Reform Bill in the House of Lords, but became more engaged in promoting the arts and sciences.[2]
He died on 17 January 1851, and was buried at Castle Ashby on 25 January.[2]
Familyedit
On 24 July 1815 Compton married Margaret Douglas-Maclean-Clephane, who was a poet admired by Sir Walter Scott and William Wordsworth, although her poetry was not published. The marriage was a happy one, producing six children. The couple lived in Italy for ten years from 1820 to 1830. Compton succeeded his father as Marquess of Northampton in 1828. Following Lady Northampton's death in 1830, Northampton returned to England. Among their children were:
Spencer Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton in 1844
spencer, compton, marquess, northampton, spencer, joshua, alwyne, compton, marquess, northampton, january, 1790, january, 1851, known, lord, compton, from, 1796, 1812, earl, compton, from, 1812, 1828, british, nobleman, patron, science, arts, most, honourablet. Spencer Joshua Alwyne Compton 2nd Marquess of Northampton FRS FGS 2 January 1790 17 January 1851 known as Lord Compton from 1796 to 1812 and as Earl Compton from 1812 to 1828 was a British nobleman and patron of science and the arts The Most HonourableThe Marquess of NorthamptonFRS FGSA painting of the Marquess of Northampton made by Henry Raeburn in 1821 26th President of the Royal SocietyIn office 1830 1838Preceded byPrince Augustus FrederickSucceeded byWilliam ParsonsMember of Parliamentfor NorthamptonIn office 1812 1820Preceded bySpencer PercevalSucceeded byGeorge RobinsonPersonal detailsBorn 1790 01 02 2 January 1790Died17 January 1851 1851 01 17 aged 61 Resting placeCastle AshbyNationalityBritishSpouseMargaret Douglas Maclean Clephane m 1815 died 1830 wbr Children6 including Charles William and AlwyneParent s Charles Compton 1st Marquess of NorthamptonMaria SmithAlma materTrinity College Cambridge Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife editThe second son of the 9th Earl of Northampton later the First Marquess Compton studied at Trinity College Cambridge receiving a Master of Arts degree in 1810 1 In 1812 following the assassination of his cousin the prime minister Spencer Perceval Compton by now Earl Compton as heir to the Marquessate took his seat for Northampton in the House of Commons 2 On 24 July 1815 he married Margaret Maclean Clephane eldest daughter of Major general Douglas Maclean Clephane 2 In the Commons Compton established a reputation as something of a maverick Despite his family s strong Tory credentials he often voted against the Tory government of the day This led to his losing his seat in the general election of 1820 After 1820 Compton took up residence in Italy where his house became a centre of attraction and exercised his influence in favour of many of the unfortunate victims of despotic authority both in Lombardy and in Naples He returned to England in 1830 and became a prominent figure in political and cultural life He supported the Reform Bill in the House of Lords but became more engaged in promoting the arts and sciences 2 In 1820 22 he was president of the Geological Society of London He served as president of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 1845 46 and 1850 51 and in 1838 became president of the Royal Society an office he held for ten years He took a particular interest in geology especially in fossils although he was not himself a scientist but more of an interested amateur The dinosaur species Regnosaurus northamptoni was named after him He resigned in 1848 due to his opposition to the Society s increasing professionalization Compton was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1846 3 He held the position of president of the Royal Society of Literature from 1849 until his death He died on 17 January 1851 and was buried at Castle Ashby on 25 January 2 Family editOn 24 July 1815 Compton married Margaret Douglas Maclean Clephane who was a poet admired by Sir Walter Scott and William Wordsworth although her poetry was not published The marriage was a happy one producing six children The couple lived in Italy for ten years from 1820 to 1830 Compton succeeded his father as Marquess of Northampton in 1828 Following Lady Northampton s death in 1830 Northampton returned to England Among their children were nbsp Spencer Compton 2nd Marquess of Northampton in 1844 Charles Compton 3rd Marquess of Northampton 1816 1877 Lady Marianne Margaret Compton 1817 1888 later Lady Marian Alford Admiral William Compton 4th Marquess of Northampton 1818 1897 Lord Alwyne Compton 1825 1906 successively Dean of Worcester and Bishop of Ely Lady Margaret Compton married Frederick Leveson GowerSee also editList of presidents of the Royal SocietyReferences edit Compton Lord Spencer Joshua Alwyne CMTN808SJ A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b c d Boase 1887 Book of Members 1780 2010 Chapter C PDF American Academy of Arts and Sciences Retrieved 13 September 2016 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Boase George Clement 1887 Compton Spencer Joshua Alwyne Dictionary of National Biography Vol 11 pp 451 452 External links edit Archival material relating to Spencer Compton 2nd Marquess of Northampton UK National Archives nbsp Hansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Spencer Compton Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded bySpencer PercevalWilliam Hanbury Bateman Member of Parliament for Northampton1812 1820 With William Hanbury Bateman 1812 1818Sir Edward Kerrison 1818 1820 Succeeded bySir George RobinsonWilliam Leader Maberly Peerage of the United Kingdom Preceded byCharles Compton Marquess of Northampton2nd creation1828 1851 Succeeded byCharles Douglas Compton Professional and academic associations Preceded byPrince Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex 26th President of the Royal Society1838 1848 Succeeded byWilliam Parsons 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