Joseph Compton-Rickett

He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Maurice Baxter.

Joseph Compton-Rickett studied at King Edward's School. The recorded working language is English. Places of work recorded in the authority are London. Positions recorded include member of the 31st Parliament of the United Kingdom and member of the 30th Parliament of the United Kingdom. Distinctions recorded are Knight Bachelor.

• Honorific Prefix — The Right Honourable • Name — Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett • Honorific Suffix — DL • Office — HM Paymaster General • Term Start — 1916 • Term End — 1919 • Prime Minister — David Lloyd George • Predecessor — Arthur Henderson • Successor — Tudor Walters • Office1 — Member of Parliament for Scarborough • Term Start1 — 7 August 1895 • Term End1 — 8 February 1906 • Predecessor1 — Sir George Sitwell, Bt • Successor1 — Walter Rea • Office2 — Member of Parliament for Osgoldcross • Term Start2 — 8 February 1906 • Term End2 — 25 November 1918 • Predecessor2 — Sir John Austin, Bt • Successor2 — John Stephenson Rowntree • Office3 — Member of Parliament for Pontefract • Term Start3 — 14 December 1918 • Term End3 — 30 July 1919 • Predecessor3 — Frederick Handel Booth • Successor3 — Walter Forrest • Birth Name — Joseph Rickett • Born — 13 February 1847 • Birthplace — London, England, UK • Died — 30 July 1919 (aged 72) • Place of death — UK • Party — Liberal Party

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. There were four sons and four daughters living when he died in 1919. He was knighted on 24 December 1907. He assumed by Royal licence the additional surname of Compton in 1908. In 1911 he was appointed to the Privy Council.

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

• Illustration — 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.′ 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. He was Member of Parliament for the Pontefract constituency that largely absorbed Osgoldcross from 1918 until his death aged 72 the following year. For the execution of his will, Sir Joseph's eldest son, Arthur Compton-Rickett, was appointed the public trustee.