Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Secretary of State, Privy Councillor, Baron Cecil of Essendon, Viscount Cranborne, Knight of the Garter, created Earl of Salisbury in 1605., Baron Cecil of Essendon from 1603, Viscount Cranborne from 1604, Earl of Salisbury from 1605, Knight of the Garter from 1608, Principal Secretary of State 1596–1612, Lord Privy Seal 1597–1612, Lord High Treasurer 1608–1612, Chancellor of Cambridge and Dublin., 1st Baron Cecil of Essendon, 1st Viscount Cranborne, Lord High Treasurer, Knight of the Garter., Secretary of State under Elizabeth I and James I, Knight of the Garter from 1606, Principal Secretary of State, Lord Privy Seal, Master of the Court of Wards, Chancellor of the Universities of Cambridge and Dublin, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and Lord High Treasurer from 1608 until his death., Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Knight of the Garter from 1606., Secretary of State 1596–1612, Lord Privy Seal 1598–1608, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1597–1599, Privy Councillor.
Dates: 1 June 1563–24 May 1612
Biography
Younger surviving son of William Cecil and Mildred Cooke. He succeeded his father as a leading royal minister and continued the Cecil political dynasty under James I. His branch became the Salisbury line, later represented by the Marquesses of Salisbury.
Notes / Sources
British Armorial Bindings, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury — https://armorial.bibsoc.org.uk/stamp-owners/CEC004.html
Wikimedia Commons, Arms of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arms_of_Robert_Cecil,_1st_Earl_of_Salisbury.svg
Burghley House, History of the Family — https://burghley.co.uk/about-us/the-family/history-of-the-family
Family / Armorial Context
Family / cadet branch: Cecil of Salisbury
Father: William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Mother: Mildred Cooke
Spouse(s): Elizabeth Brooke, daughter of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham
Children / next generation: William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury; Frances Cecil
Armorial Registry
Cecil of Salisbury — Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, six-quarter differentiated achievement
Branch: Salisbury branch of Cecil; Hatfield House; issued from Robert Cecil, younger son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Issued / recorded: 1589
Cecil of Salisbury — Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, original second-son crescent-Or cadet arms
Branch: Salisbury or Hatfield branch, founded by Robert Cecil, younger son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Issued / recorded: 1591
Cecil of Salisbury — Robert Cecil's early gold-crescent form
Branch: Founder of the Salisbury line; younger surviving son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, by Mildred Cooke
Issued / recorded: 1603
Cecil of Hatfield and Salisbury — Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Garter-era cadet achievement with Or crescent
Branch: Hatfield and Salisbury line, descended from William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, through his younger surviving son Robert Cecil
Issued / recorded: 1605
Cecil of Salisbury — Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Garter stall-plate achievement with Or crescent
Branch: Hatfield and Salisbury branch founded by Robert Cecil, younger surviving son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Issued / recorded: 1605
Cecil of Salisbury — Robert Cecil’s differentiated Garter achievement
Branch: Salisbury or Hatfield branch, founded by Robert Cecil, younger son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Issued / recorded: 1608
Record history (latest 1)
- Updated crest/arms.
3 Sep 2026, 06:54 UTC · William James Dalrymple Bedding Fanshawe West Esq., Lord of Watlington-West, Norfolk
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