Henry Compton, an English prelate, born at Compton in 1632, died July 7, 1713. He was the youngest son of Spencer, second earl of Northampton, studied at Oxford, and after the restoration became a cornet in a regiment of horse. Afterward he left the army for the church, was ordained at the age of 30, and became bishop of Oxford in 1674, and bishop of London in 1675. Charles II. made him a member of his privy council, and intrusted to him the education of his nieces Mary and Anne. He was distinguished for his hostility to the church of Rome. After the accession of James II., Dr. Sharp, rector of St.-GilesVin-the-Fields, having preached several sermons vindicating the church of England against thepapacy, became highly obnoxious to the court, and Compton was required by a royal order to suspend him. His refusal to obey was made the ground of his own suspension. He was restored to his see at the time of the revolution, and, together with the bishop of Bristol, made up the majority of two in the house of lords for filling the vacant throne. He performed the ceremony of the coronation of William and Mary, and was afterward appointed one of the commissioners for revising the liturgy.

During the reign of Anne he was put on the commission for the union of England and Scotland. The reconciliation of dissenters with the church of England was one of his favorite projects.