| Name |
Cecil, Thomas |
| Suffix |
1st Earl of Exeter |
| Birth |
5 Mar 1542 |
St Mary the Great, Cambridge, England  |
| Gender |
Male |
 Biography |
From Westminster Abbey.org - Our History |
- http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/thomas-cecil,-earl-of-exeter
Thomas Cecil, Earl of Exeter, his first wife, two daughters and his son are buried in a vault in St John the Baptist's chapel in Westminster Abbey. In the centre of the chapel is a large altar tomb with two recumbent marble effigies of Thomas and his first wife Dorothy Neville, daughter of Lord Latimer of Belvoir Castle. He is depicted in civil dress wearing the mantle of the Order of the Garter, with his feet on a garb (or wheatsheaf) supported by lions. She wears a long ermine lined cloak, with a griffin at her feet. The empty space on the tomb was left for an effigy of his second wife Frances Brydges but she died about forty years after him and is buried in Winchester Cathedral. The sides of the tomb chest are divided by Corinthian pilasters into bays and in each bay is a shield of arms with a circular wreath of bay leaves, or in one case, the Garter ribbon. The tomb was cleaned, repaired and repainted in the 1950s.
The Latin inscription around the tomb ledge can be translated:
"Thomas Cecil, Earl of Exeter, Baron of Burleigh, Knight of the Garter, Privy Counsellor to King James, with his two dearly beloved wives, Dorothy Neville, daughter and co-heir to the noble Lord Latimer, his first wife, and Frances Brydges of the noble family of the Chandos, his second wife. They rest under this monument in firm hope of a Resurrection"
The inscription obviously anticipated that Frances would lie with him.
He was born in Cambridge on 5 May 1542, eldest son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, and Mary (Cheke). He was educated by tutors, one of which was Gabriel Goodman, later Dean of Westminster. By Dorothy he had five sons and eight daughters -son William succeeded him as 2nd Earl of Exeter and was buried in the Abbey on 9 July 1640 with his first wife Elizabeth Manners who died on 11 May 1591. William's second wife was Elizabeth Drury but he had no surviving sons so the title went to a nephew. Son Edward became Viscount Wimbledon, daughter Elizabeth married Sir Edward Coke and daughter Lucy married William Paulet, 4th Marquis of Winchester. Lucy was buried in the family vault in October 1614.
In 1610 Thomas married Frances who was younger than most of his children. Their only child was Sophia Ann who was buried in the Abbey on 15 September 1621. He was a Member of Parliament, Captain of Horse and a leading courtier and Elizabeth I made him Governor of Hull as a reward for his services in the Netherlands. He was created Earl of Exeter by King James I in 1605. Dorothy died on 23 March 1609 and he died on 7 February 1623
A photo of the monument can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library.
Further reading:
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004.
|
| Other Info or Events |
- Biograghy info from https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Cecil-1st-Earl-of-Exeter/5307962079280051746
Thomas Cecil
Also Known As: "Lord Burghley"
Birthdate: March 5, 1542 (80)
Birthplace: St. Mary The Great, Cambridgeshire, England
Death: February 8, 1623 (80)
Westminster Abbey, London, England
Place of Burial: London, England
Immediate Family:
Son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mary Cecil
Husband of Frances Cecil and Dorothy Cecil
Father of Georgi-Anna Cecil; William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter, PC, KG; Lady Lucy Cecil; Cathrine Cecil; Lady Mildred Cecil and 14 others
Brother of Marguerite Cissell
Half brother of Frances Fransica Cecil; Anne de Vere, Countess of Oxford; Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Elizabeth Wentworth
Occupation: Earl of Exeter (04 May 1605), Politician, Soldier, Knight
|
| Occupation |
Bef 1585 |
| Governor of Brill, The Netherlands |
| Occupation |
Bef 1594 |
| Custos Rotulorum of Lincolnshire |
| Occupation |
Bef 1594 |
| Custos Rotulorum of Rutland |
| Occupation |
From 1599 to 1603 |
| Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire |
| Occupation |
From 1603 to 1623 |
| Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire |
| Death |
8 Feb 1623 |
Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Tombstone |
Aft 8 Feb 1623 |
Westminster Abbey, London, England |
 |
Cecil, Thomas
Westminster Abbey |
| Reference Number |
10494 |
| Burial |
Westminster Abbey, London, England |
|
|
Cecil, Thomas
Westminster Abbey |
| Person ID |
I342729 |
1FamilyTree |
| Last Modified |
2 Sep 2018 |
Family  |
Neville, Dorothy, b. Abt 1548, Snape, Hambleton District, North Yorkshire, England d. 23 Mar 1608, Westminster Abbey, London, England (Age ~ 60 years) |
| Marriage |
Aft 1566 |
| Children |
|
| Family ID |
F214852 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
29 Sep 2017 |
1542 - 1623 (80 years)
