Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Wilmington
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Portrait by Godfrey Kneller, c. 1710
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| Prime Minister of Great Britain | |
| In office 16 February 1742 – 2 July 1743 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | Robert Walpole |
| Succeeded by | Henry Pelham |
| Lord President of the Council | |
| In office 31 December 1730 – 13 February 1742 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Prime Minister | Robert Walpole |
| Preceded by | The Lord Trevor |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Harrington |
| Speaker of the House of Commons of Great Britain | |
| In office 17 March 1715 – 1727 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Thomas Hanmer |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Onslow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1674 Compton Wynyates, England |
| Died | 2 July 1743 (aged 69) Westminster, England |
| Resting place | Compton Wynyates, England |
| Political party | Whig |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | Trinity College, Oxford |
| Signature |  |
Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington (around 1674 – 2 July 1743) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Whig party. He worked in the government from 1715 until he died in 1743.
Compton was a member of the British Parliament from 1698 to 1728. After that, he became a noble and joined the House of Lords. He served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1742 until his death. He is known as Britain's second Prime Minister, after Robert Walpole.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Spencer Compton was the third son of the 3rd Earl of Northampton. His mother was Mary Noel.
He went to St Paul's School in London. Later, he studied at Trinity College, Oxford when he was about 15 years old. He also studied law at Middle Temple.
Political Journey
Starting in Parliament
Even though his family were mostly Tories, Spencer Compton became a Whig. He had a disagreement with his brother, the 4th Earl of Northampton.
He first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1695 but did not win. However, he was elected as an MP for Eye in 1698. In Parliament, he quickly became a leading Whig. He worked closely with Robert Walpole for over 40 years.
Important Roles
In 1707, Compton became the Paymaster of Pensions. This job meant he managed payments to people who received pensions from the government. He kept this job for six years. He was very active in Parliament during this time.
He was the chairman of a committee that dealt with privileges and elections. He also helped manage several new laws. In 1709, he was part of the group that prepared to impeach (accuse of wrongdoing) Dr Sacheverell.
Speaker of the House
In 1715, Spencer Compton was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Commons. This is a very important role, where the Speaker manages debates and keeps order in Parliament. He held this job for 12 years, until 1727.
In 1716, he also became a Privy Counsellor. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the King.
Compton was known for being a bit relaxed as Speaker. He once told an MP who complained about being interrupted, "No sir, you have a right to speak, but the House have a right to judge whether they will hear you."
A Missed Opportunity
When George II became King in 1727, he wanted Spencer Compton to be his main minister instead of Robert Walpole. However, Compton was not seen as a very strong leader. People described him as "a plodding, heavy fellow, with great application but no talents."
He found it hard to compete with Walpole's ideas. At a meeting, Compton admitted he was not ready to lead the government. This was his last real chance to control government policy. After this, his influence became much less. He stayed close friends with King George II, but the time when kings could choose their ministers without Parliament's full support was ending.
Joining the House of Lords
To move him out of the House of Commons, Walpole made Compton a noble in 1728. He became Baron Wilmington. Two years later, in 1730, he was made Viscount Pevensey and Earl of Wilmington. He then joined the House of Lords.
In 1730, he also became the Lord President of the Council. This role involved advising the King and overseeing government councils. He held this position until 1742.
He became more connected with the Patriot Whigs. These were Whigs who were critical of Walpole's government. However, he usually supported the official government line in Parliament.
Spencer Compton helped create the Foundling Hospital in 1739. This was a special place for abandoned children. It became a very popular charity, and many important people, including Wilmington, were on its board.
Becoming Prime Minister
In January 1742, Spencer Compton became the First Lord of the Treasury. This meant he was the head of the government, essentially the Prime Minister. He took over from Robert Walpole.
Wilmington was a strong Prime Minister. He sometimes made decisions without getting everyone in his cabinet to agree. His hard work made him tired, and his health got worse. He stayed in office until he died in July 1743. After his death, Henry Pelham became Prime Minister.
Personal Life
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In 1724, Spencer Compton bought an estate in Eastbourne, Sussex. He renamed it Compton Place. He hired famous architects to rebuild the house, and it was finished in 1731.
He never married and did not have any children. Because of this, all his noble titles ended when he died. He was buried at his family's home, Compton Wynyates in Warwickshire. Compton Place then went to his nephew.
Legacy
Several places in the United States are named after Spencer Compton. These include:
- The cities of Wilmington, Delaware
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- The towns of Wilmington, Massachusetts
- Wilmington, Vermont
- The neighborhood of Wilmington, Los Angeles
In Wilmington, Delaware, a housing project called Compton Towers is also named after him.
Spencer Compton was the first British Prime Minister to die while still in office.
Images for kids
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Spencer Compton's signature
See also
In Spanish: Spencer Compton para niños
