COMPTON, James (1687-1754)

As a loyal Tory and the heir to an earldom, Compton was a convenient choice for Robert Harley, earl of Oxford, as one of his ‘dozen’ new peers appointed to the House in December 1711. Compton had long been thought a dependable young man. He and a handful of others were recommended to Daniel Finch, styled Lord Finch (later 8th earl of Winchilsea and 3rd earl of Nottingham), by Finch’s father, Daniel Finch, 2nd earl of Nottingham, as ‘more suitable friends’ than those with whom Finch was thought to be associating while a student at Oxford. Leics. RO, DG 7 box 4950, bundle 22, Nottingham to Finch, 17 Aug. 1704. Compton later enjoyed a lengthy sojourn abroad under the tutelage of the notorious ‘bear-leader’ James Hay, during which he met the Hanoverian royal family and from which he demonstrated little desire to return. In June 1709 he wrote to his father from Venice, ‘we flatter ourselves very much with the thoughts of peace, since my Lord Townshend’s [Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend] coming over, but I don’t suppose that it will be so soon as to occasion any alteration in my route.’ Add. 38507, ff. 7, 23, 69.

Following his return, Compton was elected for Warwickshire on his father’s interest in the 1710 general election. HP Commons 1690–1715, iii. 667. Within a year of being returned to the Commons he was elevated to the Lords as the first of the controversial ‘dozen’ to be promoted en masse to the upper House to help bolster Oxford’s tottering majority. Compton’s promotion to the Lords by a writ of acceleration was one of the least contentious. Being the scion of a formidably loyal Tory house and a member of the backbench ‘October Club’ no doubt also contributed to his selection. It is unclear precisely when he himself was informed of his imminent elevation. It is possible that he was merely presented with a fait accompli following negotiations between his father (in whose barony he was summoned) and members of Oxford’s administration. PH, xxiv. 21–22; Jnl. to Stella ed. Williams, 241–2. Sir William Boughton^‡, who was reported to have refused a peerage, replaced him as knight of the shire. HP Commons 1690–1715, iii. 276.

Compton’s name was included on a list compiled by Oxford on 27 Dec. and his writ was dated the following day. On 29 Dec. he was included in another list compiled by Oxford of peers to be contacted during the Christmas recess. The next day he wrote to William Legge, earl of Dartmouth, communicating his gratitude for the honour, though there was some doubt as to whether he would be able to return to London from Northamptonshire in time for the resumption of the session on 2 Jan. 1712. This may suggest that he had been made aware of his promotion relatively late in the day. HMC Dartmouth, i. 309; PH, xxiv. 21–22. In the event, Compton succeeded in making it to London in time and took his seat in the House on 2 Jan., introduced between William North, 6th Baron North, and Francis Seymour Conway, Baron Conway. Add. 28041, f. 32. Compton continued to attend for approximately 79 per cent of all sitting days in the session. On 28 May he and his father were noted among those to have voted with the ministry by opposing the motion to address the queen to reverse the ‘restraining orders’ preventing James Butler, 2nd duke of Ormond, from launching an offensive campaign against the French. PH, xxvi. 177–81.

Given the reason for Compton’s early summons to the Lords, it is unsurprising that Jonathan Swift noted the new peer as a likely supporter of the ministry in an assessment composed in advance of the new session of April 1713. Compton took his seat at the opening of the session on 9 Apr. and on 13 June he was estimated by Oxford as being in favour of the French commerce bill. Compton and his father may have expected further favours in return for their loyalty to the ministry in the session and, following its close, Northampton wrote to Oxford to remind him of their assiduous attendance (Compton had been present for just over 70 per cent of all sitting days). Add. 70283, Northampton to Oxford, 20 July 1713. Despite this, no additional offices or titles were forthcoming.

Compton took his seat at the opening of the new Parliament on 16 Feb. 1714 and once again proved himself to be diligent in his attendance, attending just over 91 per cent of all sitting days in the session. On 6 May he received the proxy of his close associate Charles Bruce, Baron Bruce (later 3rd earl of Ailesbury), which was vacated on 26 May. Forecast by Nottingham as a likely supporter of the Schism bill, Compton was again entrusted with Bruce’s proxy on 21 June, which was vacated nine days later.

Compton attended 8 days of the brief 15-day session that met in the wake of the queen’s death. Although he continued to attend the House throughout the remainder of his life, as a Tory he found himself proscribed by the new regime and he played little further part in political life, though he was later offered a dukedom by King George II at the suggestion of his uncle, Wilmington, which he refused. Compton, Comptons of Compton Wynyates, 174. Details of the second part of his career will be considered in the next phase of this work. Compton died in October 1754, a reclusive and solitary man who had shunned society since the death of his wife and all his children (saving one daughter, Charlotte, suo jure Baroness Ferrers). Ibid. 169–70, 173. He was ultimately succeeded in the peerage by his brother, George, as 6th earl of Northampton.