CROMPTON, WILLIAM MORGAN (1811-86) was born in Birmingham, the son of a Brazil merchant, and was educated at Dr Carpenter's academy in Bristol when Dr James Martineau was on the staff. During a period of several years when he was teaching at a college in the north of France he accepted the Roman Catholic religion. In 1851 he came to Taranaki in the Lord William Bentinck (arriving in Jan 1852) and at once took up land at Omata, where he built his home. On the Taranaki Herald being established (Aug 1852) Crompton became editor, but he resigned after the ninth issue owing to a difference of opinion with the proprietors. During the war he served in the commissariat and his home and property were destroyed. He started a school in New Plymouth at which many of the children of leading colonists received their education.

Always actively interested in politics, Crompton was elected in Aug 1853 to represent Omata in the first Parliament (1853-55). He was a member of the Provincial Council for Omata from 1862 until the abolition and Speaker throughout; and on many occasions he acted as deputy for the Superintendent of the province. Crompton was an early justice of the peace and visiting justice and deputy-sheriff; a member and chairman of the New Plymouth town board, and a member of the land board, the cemetery board and court Waireka, A.O.F., and a trustee of the New Plymouth Savings Bank. On the passing of the education act in 1877 he became inspector of schools for Taranaki, a position he held with great efficiency until ill-health caused him to retire (1884). Crompton died on 27 Dec 1886.

N.Z.P.D., 9 Sep 1854; Taranaki P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Taranaki Herald, 4 Feb 1884, 28 Dec 1886.

Reference: Volume 1, page 109

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