William Compton (army officer)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Compton was an English royalist army officer. He earned the name of the "godly cavalier" in 1648, from Oliver Cromwell
, for his conduct at the siege of Colchester
.
and Mary Beaumont. At the beginning of the First English Civil War
he was directed by his father to take up arms for Charles I, who gave him the command of a regiment. He was in action at the taking of Banbury
. He led his men on to three attacks, and had two horses shot under him. On the surrender of the town and castle he was made lieutenant-governor under his father, and was knighted at Oxford on 12 December 1643.
The parliamentary forces of Northamptonshire, Warwick, and Coventry, came before the town of Banbury on 19 July 1644, but he defied them. A siege lasted thirteen weeks, relieved on 26 October by his brother, James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton
by that time. Compton continued governor of Banbury till the king left Oxford, and when the whole kingdom was submitting to the parliament he, on 8 May 1646, surrendered upon honourable terms.
In 1648 he served the king in the Kentish expedition, and in the absence of George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich
commanded as general at Greenwich
. As major-general of the king's forces at Colchester, when that town was besieged by General Thomas Fairfax
, he kept the garrison in some competent order while they were enduring privations. Compton, after being confined for some time, was set at liberty. Oliver Cromwell called him “the sober young man, and the godly cavalier.” He was one of the Sealed Knot
who managed all the eight attempts made for the restoration of Charles II from 1652 to 1659. Compton was in prison in 1655, and was again arrested in 1658.
After the Restoration
he was returned as Member of Parliament for the borough of Cambridge, 11 March 1661, and Charles II appointed him master of the ordnance. He died suddenly in Drury Lane
, London, on 18 October 1663, and was buried at Compton-Wynyates, Warwickshire
, where a monument was erected to his memory.
He married Elizabeth (nee Tollemache), widow of William Alington, 1st Baron Alington
.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, for his conduct at the siege of Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
.
Life
He was the third son of Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of NorthamptonSpencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton
Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton , styled Lord Compton from 1618 to 1630, was an English peer, soldier and politician....
and Mary Beaumont. At the beginning of the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
he was directed by his father to take up arms for Charles I, who gave him the command of a regiment. He was in action at the taking of Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
. He led his men on to three attacks, and had two horses shot under him. On the surrender of the town and castle he was made lieutenant-governor under his father, and was knighted at Oxford on 12 December 1643.
The parliamentary forces of Northamptonshire, Warwick, and Coventry, came before the town of Banbury on 19 July 1644, but he defied them. A siege lasted thirteen weeks, relieved on 26 October by his brother, James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton
James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton
James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton , known as Lord Compton from 1630 to 1643, was an English peer, soldier and politician....
by that time. Compton continued governor of Banbury till the king left Oxford, and when the whole kingdom was submitting to the parliament he, on 8 May 1646, surrendered upon honourable terms.
In 1648 he served the king in the Kentish expedition, and in the absence of George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich
George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich
George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich was an English soldier.He was the son of George Goring of Hurstpierpoint and Ovingdean, Sussex, and of Anne Denny, sister of Edward Denny, 1st Earl of Norwich. He matriculated from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1600, and may subsequently have spent some...
commanded as general at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
. As major-general of the king's forces at Colchester, when that town was besieged by General Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
, he kept the garrison in some competent order while they were enduring privations. Compton, after being confined for some time, was set at liberty. Oliver Cromwell called him “the sober young man, and the godly cavalier.” He was one of the Sealed Knot
Sealed Knot
The Sealed Knot was a secret Royalist association which plotted for the Restoration of the Monarchy during the English Interregnum.Its original founder members were:* John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse...
who managed all the eight attempts made for the restoration of Charles II from 1652 to 1659. Compton was in prison in 1655, and was again arrested in 1658.
After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
he was returned as Member of Parliament for the borough of Cambridge, 11 March 1661, and Charles II appointed him master of the ordnance. He died suddenly in Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
, London, on 18 October 1663, and was buried at Compton-Wynyates, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, where a monument was erected to his memory.
He married Elizabeth (nee Tollemache), widow of William Alington, 1st Baron Alington
William Alington, 1st Baron Alington
William Alington, 1st Baron Alington of Killard was an Irish peer, the son of Sir Giles Alington. He was created 1st Baron Alington of Killard, on 28 July 1642....
.