A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Compton, William
COMPTON, Lord. (Commander, 1842.)
The Right Honourable Lord William Compton, born 21 Aug. 1818, is second son of the Marquess of Northampton, by Margaret, eldest daughter of the late Major-Gen. Douglas Maclean Clephane, of Forloisk, N.B.; and brother-in-law of Lord Alford, son of the Earl of Brownlow.
This officer entered the Navy 6 June, 1831; passed his examination in 1837; was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 16 Dec. 1839; joined, a few days afterwards, the Melville 72, flag-ship at the Cape of Good Hope, and then in the East Indies, of Hon. Geo. Elliot; and, on 13 Feb. 1841, was appointed to the Wellesley 72, Commodore Sir Jas. John Gordon Bremer. The great exertions of his Lordship, when in command, jointly with Acting-Lieutenants Geo. Campbell Fowler and John Astle, of the barge and two cutters belonging to the Wellesley, had the happy effect, on the evening of 24 May following, of preserving that ship, then in the Boca Tigris, from a most formidable and well-planned attempt made on the part of the Chinese to destroy her by means of a flotilla of nearly 20 fire-vessels, the whole of which, although in many instances chained in couples, and some even three together, were towed clear, without doing the slightest injury.[1] Since the attainment of his present rank, 19 Aug. 1842, Lord Wm. Compton – who, on 10 Oct. in ’the previous year, had further commanded the Wellesley’s boats at the reduction of Chinghae[2] – has been unemployed.
He married, 21 Aug. 1844, Elizabeth, daughter of Rear-Admiral Hon. Geo. Elliot, C.B. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.