William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Secretary of State, Privy Councillor, Lord High Treasurer, Lord Privy Seal, Knight of the Garter, created Baron Burghley in 1571., Baron Burghley from 1571, Knight of the Garter from 1572, Lord High Treasurer from 1572., Secretary of State under Edward VI and Elizabeth I, Speaker of the House of Commons in 1563., Principal Secretary of State, principal secretary of state and Lord High Treasurer under Elizabeth I, Knight Companion of the Garter, English statesman, Privy Counsellor, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and University of Dublin, Lord Lieutenant of several counties.
Dates: 1520/21–4 August 1598
Biography
English statesman and principal minister to Elizabeth I. He founded the dynastic Cecil houses of Exeter and Salisbury and built Burghley House as a major family seat. His heraldic and genealogical interests led to the public promotion of a highly elaborate Cecil pedigree.
Notes / Sources
Burghley House, History of the Family — https://burghley.co.uk/about-us/the-family/history-of-the-family
Corpus Vitrearum USA, Heraldic Panel: Arms of William Cecil — https://corpusvitrearum.us/cvusa-c2-entry-1069/
The Antiquaries Journal, Parchment, Print and Paint: The Dissemination of the Cecil Genealogy — https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquaries-journal/article/preserving-the-past-the-dissemination-of-the-cecil-genealogy/0F2E0AA74CC34ADBB9CC6A131DB3219A
Guide to Burghley House — https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Guide_to_Burghley_House%2C_Stamford_-_the_seat_of_the_most_honourable%2C_the_Marquess_of_Exeter_%28IA_guidetoburghleyh00unse%29.pdf
Family / Armorial Context
Family / cadet branch: Cecil of Burghley
Father: Sir Richard Cecil
Mother: Jane Heckington
Spouse(s): Mary Cheke, daughter of Peter Cheke and sister of Sir John Cheke; Mildred Cooke, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke of Gidea Hall
Children / next generation: Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter; Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury; Anne Cecil, Countess of Oxford; Elizabeth Cecil; Frances Cecil
Armorial Registry
Cecil of Burghley — William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, base six-quarter paternal achievement
Branch: Burghley senior line; paternal founder of the Exeter and Salisbury peerage branches
Issued / recorded: 1571
Cecil of Burghley: personal six-quarter achievement of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Branch: Burghley; senior line founded by William Cecil, subsequently divided principally into the Exeter and Salisbury lines
Issued / recorded: 1571
Cecil of Burghley — William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, parent six-quarter Garter achievement
Branch: Burghley parent house; ancestral achievement of the Exeter and Salisbury lines
Issued / recorded: 1572
William Cecil's quartered Garter achievement
Branch: Cecil of Burghley; personal quartered achievement
Issued / recorded: late 16th century
Record history (latest 1)
- Updated crest/arms.
2 Sep 2026, 12:21 UTC · Registry system
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