Family and Education

b. 14 Mar. 1754, o.s. of Hon. Thomas Chambers Cecil. educ. Eton 1764-70; St. John’s, Camb. 1770. m. (1) 23 May 1776, Emma (div. 1791), da. of Thomas Vernon of Hanbury, Worcs., 2s. 1da.; (2) 3 Oct. 1791, Sarah (d. 18 Jan. 1797), da. of Thomas Hoggins of Bolas Magna, Salop, 3s. 1da.; (3) 19 Aug. 1800, Elizabeth Anne, da. of Peter Burrell II, div. w. of Douglas, 8th Duke of Hamilton [S], s.p. suc. uncle as 10th Earl of Exeter, 26 Dec. 1793; cr. Mq. of Exeter 4 Feb. 1801.

Offices Held

Biography

Cecil was returned for Stamford on the family interest, and voted with Administration. But, after having been absent from the division on Conway’s motion of 22 Feb. 1782, Sandwich wrote to Robinson:1 ‘Mr. Cecil is very slippery, but I think that with the aid of Lord Exeter I can get him up on any emergency if we have two days notice’; two days later, 27 Feb., Cecil voted with Administration on Conway’s motion against the war, and 15 Mar. against Rous’s motion of no confidence. He did not vote on Shelburne’s peace preliminaries, 18 Feb. 1783; and in Robinson’s list of March 1783 was among those listed ‘ill or cannot attend’. He voted for parliamentary reform, 7 May 1783; did not vote on Fox’s East India bill, 27 Nov. 1783; and in Stockdale’s list of 19 Mar. 1784 was described as absent. Cecil again voted for parliamentary reform on 18 Apr. 1785; opposed Richmond’s fortifications plan, 27 Feb. 1786, but supported Pitt on the Regency, 1788-9. There is no record of his having spoken in the House.

He died 1 May 1804.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

• 1. 25 Feb. 1782, Abergavenny mss.