He was educated at the Mound School, worked as a farmer, and served as a councillor and reeve in Pembina, Manitoba.
Compton first sought election to the Manitoba legislature in the 1920 provincial campaign, running as an "Independent Farmer" candidate in Manitou.
Two years later, in the 1922 campaign, he ran as a candidate of the United Farmers of Manitoba (UFM) and defeated Ridley by a narrow margin.
The UFM won the 1922 election, and formed government as the Progressive Party of Manitoba.
Compton served as a backbench supporter of John Bracken's ministry for the next five years.