A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Compton, Richard
COMPTON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 20; h-p., 24.)
Richard Compton Was born, 30 Dec. 1784, at Paington, co. Devon.
This officer entered the Navy, 3 Oct. 1803, as a Supernumerary, on board the Zealand 64, guardship at the Nore; and on joining, 11 Nov. following, the Champion 24, Capts. Robt. Howe Bromley and Kenneth Mackenzie, appears, for four consecutive years, to have been in frequent and very hazardous conflict with the enemy’s flotilla and batteries between Ostend and Havre. During that period he also made a short trip to America. With Capts. Bromley, Chas. Worsley Boys, and others, Mr. Compton afterwards served on board the Solebay 32, and Statira 38; and in the latter ship he was present at the forcing, in Aug. 1809, of the passage between the batteries of Flushing and Cadsand, and the reduction, in Feb. 1810, of Guadeloupe. After an additional servitude of five years, repeatedly as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Blonde 38, Capt. Thos. Huskisson, Macedonian 38, Capts. Lord Wm. Fitzroy, Hon. Wm. Waldegrave, and John Surman Carden, Conquestador 74, Capt. Lord Wm. Stuart, Maeander 38, Capt. John Bastard, and Aquilon 32, Capt. Thos. Burton, on the Lisbon, Home, and West India stations, he was at length, having passed his examination in 1811, confirmed in the rank he now holds by commission dated 13 Feb. 1815. Mr. Compton was subsequently appointed, 7 Feb. 1827, First-Lieutenant of the Alert 8, Capts. Sam. Burgess and John Coghlan Fitzgerald, under whom he continued successively employed until the summer of 1831, when a severe attack of gout compelled him to invalid. Since then he has been on half-pay.
He is married, and has issue seven children.