Biography of Bishop Henry Compton 1632-1713

Before 19th August 1622 [his father] Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton [aged 21] and [his mother] Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton [aged 18] were married. He the son of [his grandfather] William Compton 1st Earl of Northampton and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Spencer Countess Northampton [aged 47].

In 1632 Bishop Henry Compton was born to [his father] Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton [aged 30] and [his mother] Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton [aged 28].

Around 1642 Bishop Henry Compton [aged 10] educated at Queen's College, Oxford University.

In 1647 [his brother] James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton [aged 24] and [his sister-in-law] Isabella Sackville Countess Northampton [aged 24] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northampton. She the daughter of Richard Sackville 3rd Earl Dorset and Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke [aged 56]. He the son of [his father] Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton and [his mother] Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton [aged 43]. They were half fourth cousins.

After 1647 [his brother] James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton [aged 24] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Noel Countess Northampton were married. She by marriage Countess of Northampton. He the son of [his father] Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton and [his mother] Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton [aged 43].

On 18th March 1654 [his mother] Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton [aged 50] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 23rd February 1665. I was invited to a great feast at Mr. Rich's (a relation of my wife's [aged 30], now reader at Lincoln's Inn); where was the Duke of Monmouth [aged 15], the Archbishop of Canterbury [aged 66], Bishops of London [aged 33] and Winchester [aged 66], the Speaker of the House of Commons [aged 48], divers of the Judges, and several other great men.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th July 1669. After this ribaldry, the Proctors made their speeches. Then began the music art, vocal and instrumental, above in the balustrade corridor opposite to the Vice-Chancellor's seat. Then Dr. Wallis, the mathematical Professor, made his oration, and created one Doctor of music according to the usual ceremonies of gown (which was of white damask), cap, ring, kiss, etc. Next followed the disputations of the Inceptor-Doctors in Medicine, the speech of their Professor, Dr. Hyde, and so in course their respective creations. Then disputed the Inceptors of Law, the speech of their Professor, and creation. Lastly, Inceptors of Theology: Dr. Compton [aged 37] (brother of the Earl of Northampton) being junior, began with great modesty and applause; so the rest. After which, Dr. Tillotson [aged 38], Dr. Sprat [aged 34], etc., and then Dr. Allestree's [aged 47] speech, the King's [aged 39] Professor, and their respective creations. Last of all, the Vice-Chancellor, shutting up the whole in a panegyrical oration, celebrating their benefactor and the rest, apposite to the occasion.

John Evelyn's Diary. 17th April 1673. Dr. Compton [aged 41], brother to the Earl of Northampton [aged 50], preached on 1 Corinth. v. 11-16 [Note. This reference is ambiguous?], showing the Church's power in ordaining things indifferent; this worthy person's talent is not preaching, but he is likely to make a grave and serious good man.

In 1674 Bishop Henry Compton [aged 42] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.

Around 1675 Godfrey Kneller [aged 28]. Portrait of Bishop Henry Compton [aged 43].

In 1675 Bishop Henry Compton [aged 43] was appointed Bishop of London.

John Evelyn's Diary. 3rd September 1676. Dined at Captain Graham's, where I became acquainted with Dr. Compton [aged 44] (brother to the Earl of Northampton [aged 54]), now Bishop of London, and Mr. North, son to the Lord North, brother to the Lord Chief-Justice and Clerk of the Closet, a most hopeful young man. The Bishop had once been a soldier, had also traveled in Italy, and became a most sober, grave, and excellent prelate.

John Evelyn's Diary. 11th October 1681. To Fulham [Map], to visit the Bishop of London [aged 49], in whose garden I first saw the Sedum arborescens in flower, which was exceedingly beautiful.

On 15th December 1681 [his brother] James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton [aged 59] died. His son [his nephew] George [aged 17] succeeded 4th Earl of Northampton, 5th Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st August 1682. To the Bishop of London [aged 50] at Fulham [Map], to review the additions which Mr. Marshall [aged 62] had made to his curious book of flowers in miniature, and collection of insects.

John Evelyn's Diary. 30th March 1684. Easter day. The Bp. of Rochester [Dr. Turner] [aged 46] preach'd before, the King [aged 53] after which his Ma*, accompanied with three of his natural sonns, the Dukes of Northumberland [aged 18], Richmond [aged 11], and St. Alban's [aged 13] (sons of Cleaveland [aged 43], Portsmouth [aged 34] and Nelly [aged 34] respectively), went up to the Altar; ye three boyes entering before the King within the railes, at the right hand, and three Bishops on the left, viz. London [aged 52] (who officiated), Durham [aged 51], and Rochester, with the Sub-dean Dr. Holder. the King kneeling before the Altar, taking his offering, the Bishop first receiv'd, and then his Ma* after which he retir'd to a canopied seate on the right hand. Note, there was perfume burnt before the Office began. I had receiv'd ye Sacrament at Whitehall early with the Lords and Household, ye Bp. of London officiating. Then went to St. Martin's [Map], where Dr. Tenison [aged 47] preach'd (recover'd from ye small-pox); then went againe to Whitehall as above. In the afternoone went to St. Martin's againe.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st January 1686. Imploring ye continuance of God's providential care for the yeare now entered, I went to the public devotions. The Deane of the Chapell and Cleark of the Closset put out, viz. Bp. of London [aged 54] and ..., and Rochester [aged 51] and Durham [aged 52] put in their places; the former had oppos'd the toleration intended, and shewn a worthy zeale for the Reform'd Religion as establish'd.

John Evelyn's Diary. 8th September 1686. Dr. Compton, Bishop of London [aged 54], was on Monday suspended, on pretense of not silencing Dr. Sharp [aged 41] [NOTE. Assumed to be the subsequent Archbishop?] at St. Giles's [Map], for something of a sermon in which he zealously reproved the doctrine of the Roman Catholics. The Bishop having consulted the civilians, they told him he could not by any law proceed against Dr. Sharp without producing witnesses, and impleaded according to form; but it was overruled by my Lord Chancellor [aged 41], and the Bishop sentenced without so much as being heard to any purpose. This was thought a very extraordinary way of proceeding, and was universally resented, and so much the rather for that two Bishops, Durham [aged 53] and Rochester [aged 51], sitting in the commission and giving their suffrages the Archbishop of Canterbury [aged 69] refused to sit among them. He was only suspended ab officio, and that was soon after taken off. He was brother to the Earl of Northampton, had once been a soldier, had traveled in Italy, but became a sober, grave, and excellent prelate.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th March 1694. Mr. Stringfellow preached at Trinity parish, being restored to that place, after the contest between the Queen [aged 31] and the Bishop of London [aged 62] who had displaced him.

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th March 1694. Mr. Goode, minister of St. Martin's [Map], preached; he was likewise put in by the Queen [aged 31], on the issue of her process with the Bishop of London [aged 62].

On 7th July 1713 Bishop Henry Compton [aged 81] died. He was buried at All Saints Church, Fulham.