Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton

Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton KB ( * May 1601, † March 19, 1643 ) was a British military commander, politician and peer.

Life

Spencer Compton was a son of William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton, and visited at a young age the Queen's College, Cambridge.

1618 his father Earl of Northampton was raised, Spencer Compton led so the courtesy title of Baron Compton. 1621 he married Mary Beaumont, a cousin of George Villiers, later Duke of Buckingham. From the couple had eight children.

Five years later he received by Writ of acceleration ahead of the mentioned title as an independent dignity and, with them, also a seat in the House of Lords. In 1630 he inherited from his father the earldom. His marriage opened to him the English royal house and he accompanied the Duke and the Prince of Wales - 1625 when Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, in 1623 on their trip to Madrid. The purpose of this trip was the wedding preparations of Charles with the sister of the Spanish king. Compton was a close friend of Charles. I, where he remained all his life closely connected.

First military experience he gained in military campaigns in continental Europe. At the outbreak of the English Civil War, Mr. Compton leader in the Royalists and acted as Commissionar of array in Warwickshire. 1643 was the commander of the Roylistentruppen in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. After the fall of Lichfield Compton gathered his units before the village of Hopton and put there the parliament under the leadership of Sir John Gell. It came to the Battle of Hopton Heath. When the victory of the royalists was already sure Compton got on his horse during a recent attack in a group of infantrymen of the parliamentarians. When he refused to surrender, he was pushed and killed the horse.