[1] Initially a Lieutenant in the Northamptonshire Yeomanry,[2] he was commissioned into the regular army in the Royal Horse Guards, of which he became Adjutant in 1913 and achieved the rank of Major.
As Earl Compton, he became engaged in 1912 to divorced actress Miss Daisy Markham (alias Mrs Annie Moss), who during the relationship ceased her acting work and bore him twin children.
[5] As result of family pressure he broke off the engagement after succeeding to his peerage,[5] which led to a breach of promise lawsuit by Markham.
[7] Lord Northampton married, firstly, Lady Emma Marjory, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath, in 1921.
Lord Northampton died in January 1978, aged 92, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son from his second marriage, Spencer.