James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, 3rd Viscount Cranborne, 3rd Baron Cecil of Essendon, Knight of the Garter, Privy Councillor, Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire, High Steward of Hertford., Viscount Cranborne, Viscount Cranborne from 1660 to 1668, 3rd Earl of Salisbury from 1668, Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in 1668
Dates: Before 27 March 1646 – 24 May 1683
Biography
English peer and politician, son of Charles Cecil, Viscount Cranborne, and grandson of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury. He succeeded his grandfather in 1668 and was admitted to the Order of the Garter in 1680. His involvement in the Rye House Plot led to his removal from the Privy Council shortly before his death.
Notes / Sources
History of Parliament, James Cecil (1646–83) — https://dev.historyofparliamentonline.org/lord-biography/cecil-james-1646-83
Cracroft's Peerage, Earl of Salisbury — https://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/salisbury1605.htm
Wikimedia Commons, Salisbury armorial category — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Coats_of_arms_of_Earls_of_Salisbury
Family / Armorial Context
Family / cadet branch: Salisbury line of Cecil
Father: Charles Cecil, Viscount Cranborne
Mother: Lady Diana Maxwell, daughter and coheir of James Maxwell, Earl of Dirleton
Spouse(s): Lady Margaret Manners, daughter of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland
Children / next generation: James Cecil, 4th Earl of Salisbury; Robert Cecil, Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett; Lady Margaret Cecil, later Countess of Ranelagh
Armorial Registry
Cecil of Salisbury — James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury and Garter-era pre-Gascoyne achievement
Branch: Salisbury and Hatfield, third generation
Issued / recorded: 1668
Cecil of Salisbury — James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, Garter achievement
Branch: Salisbury line of Cecil, Hatfield House
Issued / recorded: 1668
Cecil of Salisbury of Hatfield — James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, Garter-era six-quarter achievement without crescent
Branch: Salisbury of Hatfield; grandson and successor of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury
Issued / recorded: 1680
Record history (latest 1)
- Updated crest/arms.
3 Sep 2026, 07:16 UTC · Registry system
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