Spencer Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton

Spencer "Spenny" Douglas David Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton (born 2 April 1946) is a British peer.

The Most Honourable The Marquess of Northampton
Coat of Arms of the Marquess of Northampton
Born	Spencer Douglas David Compton (1946-04-02) 2 April 1946
Education	Eton College
Known for	Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England
Title	7th Marquess of Northampton
Predecessor	6th Marquess of Northampton
Spouse(s)	Baroness Henriette Bentinck ​ ( m. 1967; div. 1973) Annette Smallwood ​ ( m. 1974; div. 1977) Rosemary Dawson-Damer ​ ( m. 1977; div. 1983) Ellen Erhardt ​ ( m. 1985; div. 1988) Pamela Kyprios ​ ( m. 1990; div. 2013) Tracy Goodman ( m. after 2013)
Children	Lady Lara Katrina Compton (b. 26 April 1968) Daniel Bingham Compton, Earl Compton (b. 16 January 1973) Lady Emily Rose Compton (b. 1980) Lady Louisa Cecilia Compton (b. 1985)

Family

Compton is the son of the Most Hon. William Compton, 6th Marquess of Northampton and Virginia Lucie Compton, née Heaton. The family seats are Castle Ashby House and Compton Wynyates.

The heir apparent to the marquessate and its subsidiary titles is Northampton's only son Daniel, Earl Compton (b. 1973). Since he has, so far, fathered no sons of his own, the heir apparent's heir presumptive is his first cousin James William Compton (b. 1974), son of the late Lord William James Bingham Compton (1947–2007),[1] who has two daughters and one son (William Edward Richard Compton, b. 2010) by his wife Natasha Somers (married 2000). The next heir is Alwyne Compton (b. 1919), the most senior grandson of Lord Alwyne Frederick Compton (1855–1911), the third son of the 4th Marquess; he is childless. His brother the late Robert "Robin" Compton (1922–2009) left two sons, both of whom have two sons of their own.

Personal life

He was listed as having properties worth £120 million in the 2011 Estates Gazette Rich List.[2] In the Sunday Times Rich List 2017, ranking the wealthiest people in the UK, he was listed with an estimated fortune of £110million.[3] In 1985 he sold Adoration of the Magi by Andrea Mantegna at Christie's in London to the Getty Museum for a then-world record auction price of $10.5 million (£8.1m).[4][5] In November 1993, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court confirmed his claim to the ownership of the Sevso Treasure, a hoard of late Roman Empire silver.[6]

He is a Freemason, and served as the Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England from 2001 until March 2009.

He has been married six times.

Arms

Coat of arms of Spencer Compton, 7th Marquess of Northampton

Coronet A Coronet of a Marquess Crest On a Mount a Beacon fired proper behind it a Riband inscribed with the words Nisi Dominus Escutcheon Sable a Lion passant guardant Or between three Esquire's Helmets Argent Supporters Dexter: a Dragon Ermine ducally gorged and chained Or; Sinister: an Unicorn Argent horned maned hoofed and tufted Sable Motto Je ne serche qu'un

See also

• Sevso Treasure
• Northampton Sekhemka statue

References

1. http://groups.google.com/group/peerage-news/browse_thread/thread/522bac22f2cb1d6f/01f238aa239a152f?lnk=gst&q=Emily+Compton#01f238aa239a152f>
2. Rich List 2011, Estates Gazette, 12 November 2011
3. Times Online: "The Sunday Times Rich List 2017"
4. LA Times: Getty Pays $10.5 Million For Painting
5. Getty Museum: Adoration of the Magi
6. Republic of Croatia, et al. v. Trustee of the Marquess of Northampton 1987 Settlement, 203 A.D.2d 167, 610 N.Y.S.2d 263 (1994); Republic of Croatia, et al. v. Trustee of the Marquess of Northampton 1987 Settlement, 232 A.D.2d 616, 648 N.Y.S.2d 25 (1st Dep't 1996).

Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by William Compton	Marquess of Northampton 2nd creation 1978 – present	Incumbent Heir: Daniel Compton, Earl Compton
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by The Marquess of Exeter	Gentlemen	Succeeded by The Marquess Camden