Francis Sartorius

Henry Compton (1719-1786) of Minstead Manor House, Hampshire;
Thence by descent to the present owners.

This picture was owned by the Compton family of Minstead Manor, near Lyndhurst in the New Forest.  A 'gentleman rider' at New Market and elsewhere, Henry Compton (1719-1786) subscribed to the Racing Calendar between 1746 and 1785 and continued to compete personally until 1765. The first runner in his own colours came in 1749, and thereafter he usually had one or two horses in training each season to race at his local meetings like Blandford, Stockbridge, Salisbury and Winchester. He was also an early member of the Jockey Club and indeed was present in 1758 when the august body passed its first order at Newmarket.  He was also responsible for the importation of the Compton Arabian stallion, which later became known as the Sedley Arabian.