Frances Cecil, Countess of Exeter (died 1663) facts for kids
Frances Cecil, Countess of Exeter (born Brydges, 1580–1663) was an important English noblewoman. She lived a long life during a fascinating time in English history. She was known for her two marriages to important men and her connections to the royal court.
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Who Was Frances Cecil?
Frances Cecil was born in 1580. Her father was William Brydges, 4th Baron Chandos, a nobleman. Her mother was Mary. Frances grew up in a noble family, which meant she had a high social standing.
Early Life and First Marriage
Frances first married Thomas Smith before 1604. He was an English judge, a person who helps make legal decisions. Thomas Smith passed away in November 1609.
Life as Countess of Exeter
In late 1610, Frances married Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter. He was much older than her. In fact, he was 40 years older. He was even older than most of his own children! The famous poet Ben Jonson wrote about their marriage. He said, "An old man's wife is the light of his life."
Frances gained a lot of respect at the English court. The court was the group of people around the king or queen. In November 1614, a doctor named Théodore de Mayerne treated her. She was feeling sad or unwell at that time. In 1617, Frances and her husband helped his grandson. They stepped in to protect his interests during a problem in his marriage.
Later Years and Legacy
Thomas Cecil became very ill in late 1622. He passed away in February 1623. Frances was a widow again. She then focused on finding a husband for her daughter, Margaret. Margaret eventually married Thomas Carey, who was a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent people in government.
In the 1630s, a famous artist named Anthony van Dyck painted Frances's portrait. Sadly, this painting was lost many years later. We only have copies of it now. Frances lived for another 30 years. Her daughter Margaret also became a widow. She later remarried Edward Herbert.
Frances Cecil died in 1663. Her husband Thomas Cecil had planned for her to be buried with him. His monument was in Westminster Abbey. This is a very famous church in London. But Frances chose a different place. She was buried in the floor of Winchester Cathedral.
