Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honourable
The Marquess of Exeter
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The Marquess of Exeter with his second wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Lady Sophia Cecil. By Thomas Lawrence.
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1754 |
| Died | 1 May 1804 (aged 50) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouses | 1 Emma Vernon (1754-1818) (2) Sarah Hoggins (1773–1797) (3) Elizabeth Burrell (1757–1837) |
Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter (born March 14, 1754 – died May 1, 1804) was an important British politician. He was known as Henry Cecil until 1793. From 1793 to 1801, he held the title of The Earl of Exeter. He served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the British Parliament, from 1774 to 1790. Later, he became an Earl and then a Marquess, which are high ranks in the British peerage (a system of titles).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Henry Cecil was the son of Thomas Chambers Cecil. His grandfather was Brownlow Cecil, 8th Earl of Exeter. Henry's father spent money unwisely and had to live outside England for a time. Henry was born in 1754. From a very young age, he was expected to inherit the family's important titles and estates. Because of this, he was sent to live at Burghley House when he was a baby. He received a good education, attending Eton College and later St John's College, Cambridge.
Political Journey
Henry Cecil began his political career at a young age. In 1774, when he was just 20, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Stamford. This was a family-controlled area, meaning his family had a lot of influence there. He held this position in the House of Commons until 1790.
In 1793, his uncle passed away. Henry then inherited the title of tenth Earl of Exeter. This meant he moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, another part of the British Parliament. In February 1801, he received an even higher honor. He was made the Marquess of Exeter. This was the first time someone was given the title of Marquess in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It's not fully clear why he received this special honor. While Henry Cecil had many interests, he wasn't known for making big contributions in Parliament.
Family Life and Marriages
Henry Cecil married his first wife, Emma Vernon, in 1776. Emma was an heiress, meaning she inherited a lot of money and land from her father. Her family's estates in Worcestershire, including Hanbury Hall, brought in a good income. Even with this money, Henry and Emma faced financial difficulties and got into debt. They had one son in 1777, but he sadly passed away when he was only two months old. They did not have any more children together.
In the early years of their marriage, Henry focused on improving Hanbury Hall and its surrounding lands. He worked to make the farms more efficient and profitable.
His first marriage ended in 1791. Henry then sought a legal divorce through an Act of Parliament. After the divorce was finalized, he married again.
Second Marriage and New Beginnings
In April 1790, before his divorce was complete, Henry married Sarah Hoggins. She was 16 years old and the daughter of a local farmer from Great Bolas, Shropshire. At this time, Henry was living a quiet life under the name John Jones to escape his debts. Because his first marriage was not yet officially over, this second marriage was not fully legal at first.
After his divorce from Emma was granted in 1791, Henry and Sarah had a second marriage ceremony. This made their union completely legal. Their first child, Sophia, was born in February 1792. In 1793, they had a son named Henry, but he also passed away as a baby.
In December 1793, Henry's uncle died. Henry inherited the vast Cecil family estates and the title of Earl of Exeter. He moved to Burghley House with Sarah and their daughter. Sarah had two more sons: Brownlow, born in 1795, who would later inherit his father's titles, and Thomas, born in 1797. Sarah passed away shortly after Thomas's birth, at the young age of 23. She became known as the "Cottage Countess" because she came from a simple background and reportedly found it hard to adjust to life as the mistress of a grand estate. Her story is told in Tennyson's poem "The Lord of Burleigh."
Third Marriage and Later Life
In 1800, Henry Cecil married for a third time. His third wife was Elizabeth Anne Burrell. She was the former wife of Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton. Henry and Elizabeth did not have any children together.
Lord Exeter passed away in May 1804 when he was 50 years old. His eldest son, Brownlow, inherited his titles and estates. The Marchioness of Exeter, Elizabeth, lived until January 1837, passing away at the age of 79.
