George Compton 1664-1727

George COMPTON, 4th Earl of Northampton 1664-1727

The larger of Compton's bookplates (British Museum Franks Collection *89)

Biographical Note

Son of James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton, and his second wife Mary Campden; he inherited the title and family estates from his father in 1681. MA Christ Church, Oxford 1681; he was Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire 1686-7, and Constable of the Tower of London 1712-15.

Books

Compton used two engraved armorial bookplates, in different sizes, dated 1703 (Franks *89, 6562/*48/*63). The extent of his library is not known; his will mentions plate, jewels, pictures, coaches and furniture, but not books, which would have been part of the "household goods" which were left to his wife for her lifetime; the title and main estates were inherited by his son James, who became the 5th Earl.

Sources

• Will of George Compton, The National Archives PROB 11/615/141.
• George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton, Wikipedia.
• Foster, J., Alumni Oxonienses, Oxford, 1891.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.