Marquess of Exeter

Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the peerage of England and once in the peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon. For more information on this creation, which was forfeited in 1538, see Earl of Devon.

Marquessate of Exeter
Arms: Barry of ten Argent and Azure, six Escutcheons, three, two, and one, Sable, each charged with a Lion rampant Argent. Crest: On a Chapeau Gules, turned up Ermine, a Garb Or, supported by two Lions, the dexter Argent, and the sinister Azure. Supporters: On either side a Lion Ermine.
Creation date	4 February 1801
Creation	Second
Created by	King George III
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Henry Cecil, 10th Earl of Exeter
Present holder	Michael Cecil, 8th Marquess of Exeter
Heir apparent	Anthony Cecil, Baron Burghley
Remainder to	The 1st Marquess's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Earl of Exeter Baron Burghley
Seat(s)	Burghley House
Motto	Cor unum via una (One heart, one way)

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley

History

The title is chiefly associated with the Cecil family, descended from the courtier Sir Richard Cecil of the parish of Stamford Baron St Martin in Northamptonshire. His only son, Sir William Cecil, was a prominent statesman and served as Secretary of State, Lord High Treasurer and Lord Privy Seal. In 1571 he was created Baron Burghley, in the County of Northampton, in the Peerage of England. His son from his second marriage to Mildred Cooke, Sir Robert Cecil, was created Earl of Salisbury in 1605 and is the ancestor of the Marquesses of Salisbury. Lord Burghley was succeeded by his son from his first marriage to Mary Cheke, Thomas, the second Baron. He represented Stamford, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire in the House of Commons, served as Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire and as President of the Council of the North and was also a distinguished soldier. In 1605 Thomas Cecil was created Earl of Exeter in the Peerage of England (on the same day his half-brother was created Earl of Salisbury).

Thomas was succeeded by his eldest son William Cecil, the second Earl. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire. Lord Exeter married as his first wife Elizabeth, 16th Baroness de Ros. Their son William succeeded his mother in the barony at the age of one. However, he died childless during his father's lifetime (when the barony was inherited by his cousin Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland). Lord Exeter had no other sons and was succeeded by his nephew, the third Earl. He was the son of Sir Richard Cecil, second son of the first Earl. He represented Peterborough in the Short Parliament. His son, the fourth Earl, was Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire. He was succeeded by his son, the fifth Earl. He sat as Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire.

His son, the sixth Earl, represented Rutland in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of Rutland. His second son, the eighth Earl (who succeeded his elder brother), briefly represented Stamford in the House of Commons. His eldest son, the ninth Earl, was Member of Parliament for Rutland and also Lord Lieutenant of that county. He was childless and was succeeded by his nephew, the tenth Earl. He was the son of Thomas Chambers Cecil, second son of the eighth Earl.

Creation as Marquess

Lord Exeter represented Stamford in Parliament for sixteen years. In 1801 he was created Marquess of Exeter in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.^[1]

His son, the second Marquess, was a Tory politician and notably served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household and Lord Steward of the Household. He was succeeded by his son, the third Marquess. He was a Conservative politician and held office as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household and Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms. His eldest son, the fourth Marquess, represented Northamptonshire North in the House of Commons and served briefly as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household under his kinsman Lord Salisbury. He was succeeded by his son, the fifth Marquess. He was a Colonel in the Royal Field Artillery and served as Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.

 

Burghley House, the ancestral seat of the Marquesses of Exeter

His eldest son, the sixth Marquess, was a Conservative politician and prominent athlete and sports official. He won the 400-metre hurdles at the 1928 Summer Olympics and was later President of the International Amateur Athletic Federation and Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee. Lord Exeter also represented Peterborough in the House of Commons and served as Governor of Bermuda. He died without surviving male issue and was succeeded by his younger brother, the seventh Marquess. He was proprietor of a cattle ranch at 100 Mile House, British Columbia, in Canada. In 1954 he became head of the Emissaries of Divine Light, an obscure religious group. As of 2013^[update] the titles are held by his only son, the eighth Marquess, who succeeded in 1988. He operates the ranch; from 1988 to 1996 he also headed the Emissaries of Divine Light.

Another member of the Cecil family was the naval commander Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon (a title which became extinct on his death in 1638). He was the third son of the first Earl of Exeter. Also, Lord William Cecil, third son of the third Marquess, married Mary, 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney. Their grandson William succeeded in the barony in 1919. Another member of this branch of the family is Vice-Admiral Sir Nigel Cecil. The champion racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil was the son of Henry Cecil, a younger brother of the third Baron. Lord John Joicey-Cecil, fourth son of the third Marquess, was Conservative Member of Parliament for Stamford.

The marquessate of Exeter is the senior marquessate in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The Marquesses also hold the title of hereditary Grand Almoner and Lord Paramount of Peterborough.

The ancestral home of the Marquesses of Exeter is Burghley House, near Stamford, Lincolnshire; it is now run by a trust founded by the family. Former properties include Cecil House in London and Exeter House, Derby. The traditional burial place of the Cecils of Burghley House and the Marquesses of Exeter is the Burghley Chapel in St Martin's Church, Stamford.

Marquess of Exeter, first creation (1525)

 

Arms of Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter (first creation): Quarterly, 1st: Royal arms of Edward IV, within a bordure counter-changed; 2nd & 3rd: Or, three torteaux gules (Courtenay); 4th: Or, a lion rampant azure (Redvers)

• Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, 2nd Earl of Devon (attainted 1538, executed 1539); for his family, see Earl of Devon.

Barons Burghley (1571)

• William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (1521–1598)
• Thomas Cecil, 2nd Baron Burghley (1542–1623) (created Earl of Exeter in 1605)

Earls of Exeter (1605)

Other titles (1st Earl onwards): Baron Burghley (Eng 1571)

• Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter (1542–1623)
• William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter (1566–1640)
• David Cecil, 3rd Earl of Exeter (c. 1600–1643)
• John Cecil, 4th Earl of Exeter (1628–1678)
• John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter (c. 1648–1700)
• John Cecil, 6th Earl of Exeter (1674–1721)
• John Cecil, 7th Earl of Exeter (c. 1700–1722)
• Brownlow Cecil, 8th Earl of Exeter (1701–1754)
• Brownlow Cecil, 9th Earl of Exeter (1725–1793)
• Henry Cecil, 10th Earl of Exeter (1754–1804) (created Marquess of Exeter in 1801)

Marquesses of Exeter, second creation (1801)

Other titles (1st Marquess onwards): Baron Burghley (Eng 1571), Earl of Exeter (Eng 1605)

• Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter (1754–1804)
• Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter (1795–1867)
• William Alleyne Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter (1825–1895)
• Brownlow Henry George Cecil, 4th Marquess of Exeter (1849–1898)
• William Thomas Brownlow Cecil, 5th Marquess of Exeter (1876–1956)
• David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter (1905–1981)
• (William) Martin Alleyne Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter (1909–1988)
• (William) Michael Anthony Cecil, 8th Marquess of Exeter (b. 1935)

Notes:

• The heir apparent is the present holder's son Anthony John Cecil, Lord Burghley (b. 1970).
  • The heir apparent's heir presumptive is his fourth cousin (Hugh) William Amherst Cecil, 5th Baron Amherst of Hackney (b. 1968), who is descended from the third son of the third Marquess.
    • His heir is his only son Jack William Cecil (b. 2001)

Family tree

v t e Cecil family tree, including earls of Exeter and Salisbury (1605) and marquesses of Exeter (1801) and Salisbury

BARON BURGHLEY, 1571 William Cecil (1520–1598) 1st Baron Burghley EARL OF EXETER, 1605 BARON CECIL OF ESSENDON, 1603 VISCOUNT CRANBORNE, 1604 EARL OF SALISBURY (5th creation), 1605 Thomas Cecil (1542–1623) 2nd Baron Burghley Created 1605: 1st Earl of Exeter Robert Cecil (1563–1612) 1st Earl of Salisbury 1st Viscount Cranborne 1st Baron Cecil of Essendon BARON CECIL OF PUTNEY and VISCOUNT WIMBLEDON, 1625 William Cecil (1566–1600) 2nd Earl of Exeter 3rd Baron Burghley Richard Cecil (1570–1633) Edward Cecil (1572–1638) 1st Baron Cecil of Putney 1st Viscount Wimbledon Barony Cecil of Putney and viscounty Wimbledon extinct, 1638 David Cecil (c. 1600–1643) 3rd Earl of Exeter 4th Baron Burghley William Cecil (1591–1668) 2nd Earl of Salisbury 2nd Viscount Cranborne 2nd Baron Cecil of Essendon John Cecil (1628–1678) 4th Earl of Exeter 5th Baron Burghley Charles Cecil (1619–1660) styled Viscount Cranborne John Cecil (c. 1648–1700) 5th Earl of Exeter 6th Baron Burghley James Cecil (1648–1683) 3rd Earl of Salisbury 3rd Viscount Cranborne 3rd Baron Cecil of Essendon John Cecil (1674–1721) 6th Earl of Exeter 7th Baron Burghley James Cecil (1666–1694) 4th Earl of Salisbury 4th Viscount Cranborne 4th Baron Cecil of Essendon John Cecil (c. 1700–1722) 7th Earl of Exeter 8th Baron Burghley Brownlow Cecil (1701–1754) 8th Earl of Exeter 9th Baron Burghley James Cecil (1691–1728) 5th Earl of Salisbury 5th Viscount Cranborne 5th Baron Cecil of Essendon Brownlow Cecil (1725–1793) 9th Earl of Exeter 10th Baron Burghley James Cecil (1713–1780) 6th Earl of Salisbury 6th Viscount Cranborne 6th Baron Cecil of Essendon MARQUESS OF EXETER (second creation), 1801 MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, 1789 Henry Cecil (1725–1793) 10th Earl of Exeter 11th Baron Burghley Created 1801: 1st Marquess of Exeter James Cecil (1743–1823) 7th Earl of Salisbury 7th Viscount Cranborne 7th Baron Cecil of Essendon Created 1789: 1st Marquess of Salisbury Brownlow Cecil (1795–1867) 2nd Marquess of Exeter 11th Earl of Exeter 12th Baron Burghley James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil (1791–1868) 2nd Marquess of Salisbury 8th Earl of Salisbury 8th Viscount Cranborne 8th Baron Cecil of Essendon William Allen Cecil (1825–1895) 3rd Marquess of Exeter 12th Earl of Exeter 13th Baron Burghley James Emilius William Evelyn Gascoyne-Cecil (1821–1865) styled Viscount Cranborne Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil (1830–1903) 3rd Marquess of Salisbury 9th Earl of Salisbury 9th Viscount Cranborne 9th Baron Cecil of Essendon VISCOUNT CECIL OF CHELWOOD, 1923 Brownlow Henry George Cecil (1849–1898) 4th Marquess of Exeter 13th Earl of Exeter 14th Baron Burghley Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil (1857–1919) 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney William Cecil (1854–1943) James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil (1861–1947) 4th Marquess of Salisbury 10th Earl of Salisbury 10th Viscount Cranborne 10th Baron Cecil of Essendon Edgar Algernon Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (1864–1958) 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood Viscounty Cecil of Chelwood extinct, 1958 William Thomas Brownlow Cecil (1876–1956) 5th Marquess of Exeter 14th Earl of Exeter 15th Baron Burghley William Amherst Cecil (1886–1914) Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil (1893–1972) 5th Marquess of Salisbury 11th Earl of Salisbury 11th Viscount Cranborne 11th Baron Cecil of Essendon David George Brownlow Cecil (1905–1981) 6th Marquess of Exeter 15th Earl of Exeter 16th Baron Burghley William Martin Alleyne Cecil (1909–1988) 7th Marquess of Exeter 16th Earl of Exeter 17th Baron Burghley William Alexander Evering Cecil (1912–1980) 3rd Baron Amherst of Hackney Robert Edward Peter Gascoyne-Cecil (1916–2003) 6th Marquess of Salisbury 12th Earl of Salisbury 12th Viscount Cranborne 12th Baron Cecil of Essendon William Michael Anthony Cecil (b. 1935) 8th Marquess of Exeter 17th Earl of Exeter 18th Baron Burghley William Hugh Amherst Cecil (1940–2009) 4th Baron Amherst of Hackney Robert Edward Peter Gascoyne-Cecil (b. 1946) 7th Marquess of Salisbury 13th Earl of Salisbury 13th Viscount Cranborne 13th Baron Cecil of Essendon Anthony Cecil (b. 1970) styled Lord Burghley Exeter heir apparent Hugh William Amherst Cecil (b. 1968) 5th Baron Amherst of Hackney 2nd in line to Exeter Robert Edward "Ned" William Gascoyne-Cecil (b. 1970) styled Viscount Cranborne Salisbury heir apparent James Richard Gascoyne-Cecil (b. 1976) 2nd in line to Salisbury

Line of succession

Line of succession (simplified)

William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter (1825–1895)   Brownlow Cecil, 4th Marquess of Exeter (1849–1898)   William Cecil, 5th Marquess of Exeter (1876–1956)   (William) Martin Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter (1909–1988)   (William) Michael Cecil, 8th Marquess of Exeter (b. 1935) (1). Anthony John Cecil, Lord Burghley (born 1970) Lord William Cecil (1854–1943) m.   Mary Cecil, 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney (1857–1919) William Amherst Cecil (1886–1914)   William Cecil, 3rd Baron Amherst of Hackney (1912–1980)   William Cecil, 4th Baron Amherst of Hackney (1940–2009)   (2, 1). (Hugh) William Cecil, 5th Baron Amherst of Hackney (born 1968) (3, 2).Jack William Amherst Cecil (born 2001) (4, 3).Anthony Henry Amherst Cecil (born 1947) (5, 4). Henry Edward Amherst Cecil (born 1976) (6, 5). George William Amherst Cecil (born 2009) (7, 6). Thomas Anthony Amherst Cecil (born 1981) Henry Kerr Auchmuty Cecil (1914–1942) male issue in succession Alexander James Amherst Burnett of Leys (b. 1973) male issue in succession Henry Richard Amherst Cecil (1943–2013) male issue in succession David Henry Amherst Cecil (1943–2000) male issue in succession Thomas James Amherst Cecil (1887–1955) Barclay James Amherst Cecil (1913–1987) male issue in succession John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil (1925–2020) male issue in succession William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil (1928–2017) male issue in succession Henry Mitford Amherst Cecil (1893–1962) Sir Oswald Nigel Amherst Cecil (1925–2017) male issue in succession Lord John Pakenham Joicey-Cecil (1867–1942) Edward Wilfred George Joicey-Cecil (1912–1985) male issue in succession ^[2]^[3]

See also

• Viscount Wimbledon
• Marquess of Salisbury
• Baron de Ros
• Baron Rockley
• Viscount Cecil of Chelwood
• Baron Quickswood
• Baron Amherst of Hackney

Notes

1. "No. 15324". The London Gazette. 3 January 1801. p. 10.
2. Mosley, Charles, ed. (1999). "Amherst of Hackney". Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage. Vol. 1 (106th ed.). Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. pp. 67–68. ISBN 2-940085-02-1.
3. Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "Amherst of Hackney, Baron". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's Ltd. pp. 330–334. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.

References

• Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: Dean & Son. p. 357.
• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,^{[page needed]}
• ^{[self-published source][better source needed]}