Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington (ca 1673 – 2 July 1743) was a
British Whig statesman who served continuously in government from 1715 until his death. He served as the Prime Minister from 1742 until his death in 1743. He is considered to have been Britain's second Prime Minister, after
Sir Robert Walpole, although he was largely a figurehead, with real power exercised by the
Secretary of State,
Lord Carteret.