Joseph Compton-Rickett

Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett, DL PC (13 February 1847 – 30 July 1919), was a British Liberal Party politician. He was also an industrialist (until 1902), lay preacher, and writer. He wrote poetry and fiction, as well as on such topics as popular philosophy. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Maurice Baxter.^[1]

The Right Honourable Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett DL
HM Paymaster General
In office 1916–1919
Prime Minister	David Lloyd George
Preceded by	Arthur Henderson
Succeeded by	Tudor Walters
Member of Parliament for Scarborough
In office 7 August 1895 – 8 February 1906
Preceded by	Sir George Sitwell, Bt
Succeeded by	Walter Rea
Member of Parliament for Osgoldcross
In office 8 February 1906 – 25 November 1918
Preceded by	Sir John Austin, Bt
Succeeded by	John Stephenson Rowntree
Member of Parliament for Pontefract
In office 14 December 1918 – 30 July 1919
Preceded by	Frederick Handel Booth
Succeeded by	Walter Forrest
Personal details
Born	Joseph Rickett 13 February 1847 London, England, UK
Died	30 July 1919 (aged 72) UK
Political party	Liberal Party

Background

He was born in London as Joseph Rickett, the eldest son of Joseph Rickett, of East Hoathly. He was educated at King Edward VI School, Bath. In 1868 he married Catharine Sarah Gamble (1847–1933). They had ten children.^[2] There were four sons and four daughters living when he died in 1919.^[3] He was knighted on 24 December 1907.^[4] He assumed by Royal licence the additional surname of Compton in 1908.

In 1911 he was appointed to the Privy Council.^[5]

Professional career

He was in business and interested in various commercial undertakings.^[2] In 1902, he retired from the chairmanship of several coal trade companies to devote himself to his political career.^[5]

Political career

Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett in 1919

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Scarborough from 1895–1906. He had gained the seat from the Conservatives in 1895 and held it in the 1900 election. In early 1903 he announced his intention to step down as a candidate in this constituency at the next election, stating that he ′desired a constituency in which his attention will not be distracted by local controversies from the political and social problems which keep him in public office.′^[6] He was then Member of Parliament for Osgoldcross from 1906–1918. In 1906 he re-gained the seat that had been Independent Liberal since 1899. He held office in the Coalition Government of David Lloyd George as Paymaster General from 1916 to 1919. In 1917 he served as a Charity Commissioner.^[5]

He was Member of Parliament for the Pontefract constituency that largely absorbed Osgoldcross from 1918 until his death aged 72 the following year.^{[citation needed]} For the execution of his will, Sir Joseph's eldest son, Arthur Compton-Rickett, was appointed the public trustee.^[3]

Electoral record

General election 1906: Osgoldcross^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Joseph Rickett	8,482	66.1
	Conservative	Granville Wheler	4,358	33.9	n/a
Majority			4,124	32.1
Turnout			12,840
	Liberal gain from Independent Liberal		Swing

General election January 1910: Osgoldcross ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Joseph Compton-Rickett	9,517	66.3
	Conservative	Gerald de la Pryme Hargreaves	4,840	33.7
Majority			4,677	32.6
Turnout
	Liberal hold		Swing

General election December 1910: Osgoldcross^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Joseph Compton-Rickett	8,518	66.2	−0.1
	Conservative	Malcolm Campbell-Johnston	4,347	33.8	+0.1
Majority			4,171	32.4	−0.2
Turnout				70.4
	Liberal hold		Swing	-0.1

Pontefract General Election, 1918^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Joseph Compton-Rickett	8,561	62.9
	Labour	Isaac Burns	5,047	37.1
Majority			3514	25.8
Turnout				45.6
	Liberal hold		Swing