EARLS AND MARQUESSES OF

NORTHAMPTON  . The Northampton title has been held in various English families . About 1o8o Simon de Senlis (d . 1too), a Norman noble, and the builder of Northampton Castle, was created earl of Northampton as well as earl of Huntingdon by William the Conqueror; his son Simon (d . 1153) was also recognized in the title about 1141, though his stepfather, David, king of Scotland (1084-1153), had meanwhile obtained the earldom in right of his wife . The second Simon died childless . In 1337 William de Bohun (c . 1310-136o), a distinguished soldier, son of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th earl of Hereford and 3rd earl of Essex, was created earl of Northampton; and his son Humphrey, who succeeded, fell heir in 1361 to the earldoms of Hereford and Essex, which thus became united under that of Hereford . The titles, however, became extinct at his death in 1372 . In 1547 William Parr (1513-1571), son of Sir Thomas Parr and brother of Catherine Parr, was created marquess of Northampton, and though attainted in 1553 was recreated marquess in 1559 . He took part in suppressing the rising in the north of England in 1537, and after serving as member of parliament for Northamptonshire was made Baron Parr in 1539 . In December 1543, just after his sister had married the king, he was created earl of Essex, a title formerly held by his father-in-law, Henry Bourchier, who had died in March 1J40 .

Under

Edward VI., who called him " his honest uncle," Parr was equally prominent, being lord-lieutenant of five of the eastern counties, and being great chamberlain from 1550 to 1553 . He favoured the claim of Lady Jane Grey to the English throne and consequently the accession of Queen Mary was quickly followed by his attainder . Although sentenced to death he was pardoned Economic Development of the Continent . and released from prison at the end of 1553• After enjoying the favour of Queen Elizabeth, Northampton died at Warwick on the 28th of October 1571 . He left no children and his marquessate became extinct . In 1604 Henry Howard (see below) was created earl of Northampton, his title dying with him . It next passed into the Compton family, where it has since remained . The 1st earl of Northampton in this line, William Compton (d . 163o), who received the title in 1618, was a great-grandson of the Sir William Compton (1482—1528) who was with Henry VIII. at the Field of the Cloth of Gold, and his son the 2nd earl is noticed below . The 9th earl, Charles Compton (1760-1828), was created a marquess in 1812, receiving at the same time the titles of Earl Compton and Baron Wilmington . His son Spencer Joshua Alwyne, the 2nd marquess (1790-1851), was president of the Royal Society from 1838 to 1848; the latter's son Lord Alwyne Compton (1825—1906) was bishop of Ely from ,886 to 1905 . The 5th marquess (b .

1851), :son of the 4th marquess (1818—1897), was, as Earl Compton, a Liberal member of parliament from 1889 to 1897 .