Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter

The Most Honourable The Marquess of Exeter KG PC
Lord Chamberlain of the Household
In office 27 February 1852 – 17 December 1852
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Prime Minister	The Earl of Derby
Preceded by	The Marquess of Breadalbane
Succeeded by	The Marquess of Breadalbane
Lord Steward of the Household
In office 26 February 1858 – 11 June 1859
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Prime Minister	The Earl of Derby
Preceded by	The Earl of St Germans
Succeeded by	The Earl of St Germans
Personal details
Born	2 July 1795
Died	16 January 1867 (aged 71)
Nationality	British
Political party	Tory
Spouse(s)	Isabella Poyntz (1803–1879)
Alma mater	St John’s College, Cambridge[1]

Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter KG PC (2 July 1795 – 16 January 1867), styled Lord Burghley until 1804, was a British peer, courtier and Tory politician. He held office under the Earl of Derby as Lord Chamberlain of the Household in 1852 and as Lord Steward of the Household between 1858 and 1859.

Background

Exeter was the eldest son of Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter, and Sarah, daughter of Thomas Hoggins. His mother died shortly before his second birthday and in 1804 he succeeded to the marquessate, aged eight, on the death of his father.^[2]

A keen cricketer who was associated with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), prior to his political career he appeared in a first-class match in 1817 for W Ward's XI against EH Budd's XI at Lord's.^[3] He made scores of 1 and 4 not out in the match.^[4]

Political career

Exeter held office in the first two Tory administrations of the Earl of Derby, first as Lord Chamberlain of the Household between February^[5] and December 1852,^[6] and later as Lord Steward of the Household from 1858^[7] to 1859.^[8] Apart from his political career, he was also Lord Lieutenant of Rutland between 1826 and 1867 and of Northamptonshire between 1842 and 1867,^[9] and Groom of the Stole to the Prince Consort between 1841^[10] and 1846. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1827^[11] and admitted to the Privy Council in 1841.^[12]

Family

Lord Exeter married Isabella Poyntz, daughter of William Stephen Poyntz, on 12 May 1824. They had at least five children:

• William Alleyne Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter (1825–1895)
• Colonel Lord Brownlow Thomas Montagu Cecil (1827–1905)
• Lady Mary Frances Cecil (1832–1917), married Dudley Ryder, 3rd Earl of Harrowby
• Lord Adalbert Percy Cecil (1841–1889), member of the Plymouth Brethren^[13]
• Lady Victoria Cecil (1843–1932), married William Charles Evans-Freke, 8th Baron Carbery

Lord Exeter died in January 1867, aged 71, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son William. The Marchioness of Exeter died in March 1879, aged 76.^[2]

References

1. "Cecil, Brownlow, Marquess of Exeter (CCL811B)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
2. Lundy, Darryl. "Sir Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter". Thepeerage.com. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
3. "First-Class Matches played by Marquis of Exeter". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
4. "EH Budd's XI v W Ward's XI, 1817". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
5. The London Gazette: no. 21297. p. 670. 2 March 1852.
6. The London Gazette: no. 21403. p. 137. 18 January 1853.
7. The London Gazette: no. 22106. p. 1207. 2 March 1858.
8. The London Gazette: no. 22278. p. 2419. 21 June 1859.
9. Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
10. The London Gazette: no. 20019. p. 2316. 17 September 1841.
11. The London Gazette: no. 18360. p. 1033. 11 May 1827.
12. The London Gazette: no. 20019. p. 2315. 17 September 1841.
13. "Biography of Lord Adalbert Cecil, 1841–1889. (Spiritual Songsters)". Stempublishing.com. Retrieved 14 August 2012.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Marquess of Exeter