William Alleyne Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter PC (30 April 1825 – 14 July 1895), styled Lord Burghley between 1825 and 1867, was a British peer and

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

politician. He served as

Treasurer of the Household The Treasurer of the Household is a member of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom, Royal Household of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The position is usually held by one of the government deputy Chief ...

between 1866 and 1867 and as

Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

between 1867 and 1868.

Early life

Exeter was the eldest son of

Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter (2 July 1795 – 16 January 1867), styled Lord Burghley until 1804, was a British Peerage, peer, courtier, and Tory (political faction), Tory politician. He held office under the Edward Smith-Stanley, 14t ...

, and his wife Isabella, daughter of William Stephen Poyntz, MP. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was president of the University Pitt Club. Exeter played

first-class cricket First-class cricket, along with List A cricket and Twenty20 cricket, is one of the highest-standard forms of cricket. A first-class match is of three or more days scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players each and is officially adju ...

for the

Marylebone Cricket Club The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's, Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London, England. The club was the governing body of cricket from 1788 to 1989 and retain ...

and

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

between 1847 and 1851.

Career

Exeter was elected to the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

for South Lincolnshire in 1847, a seat he held until 1857, and then represented

North Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire is a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Northamptonshire, England, and was created in 2021. The council is based in Corby, the district's la ...

from 1857 to 1867. He served under the

Earl of Derby Earl of Derby ( ) is a title in the Peerage of England. The title was first adopted by Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby, under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the 6th Earl forfeited his property toward the en ...

from 1866 to 1867,Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition).

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

: St Martin's Press, 1990, when he succeeded his father in the marquessate and entered the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

. In March 1867 Derby appointed him

, a post he held until December 1868, the last nine months under the premiership of

Benjamin Disraeli Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British statesman, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician and writer who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a ...

. In 1866 he was admitted to the Privy Council.

Personal life

Lord Exeter married Lady Georgina Sophia Pakenham, daughter of Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford, on 17 October 1848. They had at least nine children: * Brownlow Henry George Cecil, 4th Marquess of Exeter (1849–1898), who married Isabella Whichcote, daughter of Sir Thomas Whichcote, 7th Baronet. * Lord Francis Horace Pierrepont Cecil (1851–1889), who married Edith Brookes, daughter of Sir William Cunliffe Brooks, 1st Baronet. * Lord William Cecil (1854–1943), who married Mary Cecil, 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney. After her death in 1919, he married Violet Freer in 1924. * Lady Catherine Sarah Cecil (1861–1918), married Henry Vane, 9th Baron Barnard. * Lord John Pakenham Joicey-Cecil (1867–1942), a Colonel of the Lincolnshire Regiment and MP for Stamford. * Lady Isabella Georgiana Katherine Cecil (d. 1903), who married William Battie-Wrightson. * Lady Mary Louisa Wellesley Cecil (d. 1930), who married James Hozier, 2nd Baron Newlands. * Lady Louisa Alexandrina Cecil (d. 1950), who died unmarried. * Lady Frances Emily Cecil (d. 1951), who died unmarried. Lord Exeter died in July 1895, aged 70, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son Brownlow, who also became a government minister. The Marchioness of Exeter died in March 1909. Lady Angela Forbes wrote in her 1919 memoir, ''Memories and Base Details'', of how she " toodin wholesome dread, in company, I may say, with her own family" of the formidable Marchioness. "Not to speak until you were spoken to, was a doctrine I did not at all appreciate, but one rigidly enforced at Burleigh! Prayers were read daily by Lady Exeter in the beautiful old chapel adjoining the house ... none fatal occasion I giggled – and Lady Exeter stopped dead in the middle of a sentence, looking straight at me. 'When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness' – and then there was a horrid pause. No notice was taken as we went out, but a little later a message came that 'her ladyship would like to see me.' My outward bravado was not in the least indicative of my feelings as I stood in front of her listening to a severe lecture couched in the most satirical language, whilst her two daughters stood, dragon-like, on either side of her." He held 28,000 acres across EnglandThe great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland
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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Exeter, William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of 1825 births 1895 deaths Barons Burghley Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Burghley, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, William Cecil, Lord Exeter, M3 Treasurers of the Household Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms English cricketers Cambridge University cricketers Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers English cricketers of 1826 to 1863 19th-century British sportsmen 3 North v South cricketers