William Martin Alleyne Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter, Lord Martin Cecil until 1981, Earl of Exeter and Baron Burghley from 1981, Canadian rancher, head of the Emissaries of Divine Light from 1954., head of the Emissaries of Divine Light, 16th Earl of Exeter, 17th Baron Burghley, Canadian cattleman, head of the Emissaries of Divine Light during part of his later life.
Dates: 27 April 1909 – 12 January 1988
Biography
Born into the senior Exeter branch of the Cecil family, Martin was the second son of William Thomas Brownlow Cecil, 5th Marquess of Exeter, and Myra Rowena Sibell Orde-Powlett. He moved to Canada in 1930 to manage the family ranch at 100 Mile House, British Columbia. After the death of his elder brother David, 6th Marquess of Exeter, on 21 October 1981, he inherited the Exeter marquessate. He died on 12 January 1988 and was succeeded by his only son Michael.
Notes / Sources
Burghley House, The Family Now — https://burghley.co.uk/about-us/the-family/the-family-now
Historic England, Burghley House listing — https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000359?section=overview
The Peerage, David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter — https://www.thepeerage.com/e626.htm
Wikimedia Commons, Arms of the House of Cecil — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arms_of_the_House_of_Cecil.svg
Wikimedia Commons, Coat of arms of Cecil, Marquess of Exeter, KCMG — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_Cecil,_Marquess_of_Exeter,_KCMG.svg
Family / Armorial Context
Family / cadet branch: Cecil of Burghley; Marquesses of Exeter
Father: William Thomas Brownlow Cecil, 5th Marquess of Exeter
Mother: Myra Rowena Sibell Orde-Powlett, daughter of William Thomas Orde-Powlett, 4th Baron Bolton
Spouse(s): Edith Lilian Csanady de Telegd, married 17 January 1934; Lillian Jane Johnson, married 3 September 1954
Children / next generation: William Michael Anthony Cecil, 8th Marquess of Exeter; Lady Marina June Brownlow-Cecil; Janine Dawn Brownlow-Cecil, died in infancy
Armorial Registry
Cecil of Exeter — William Martin Alleyne Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter and Canadian collateral branch
Branch: Senior Exeter line; Canadian Bridge Creek offshoot
Issued / recorded: 1981
Cecil of Exeter — William Martin Alleyne Cecil, 7th Marquess, Canadian ranch succession
Branch: Senior Exeter line; Bridge Creek Ranch; Canadian succession from the 5th Marquess
Issued / recorded: 1981-06-16
Cecil of Exeter — William Martin Alleyne Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter, Canadian succession branch
Branch: Cecil of Burghley; Exeter senior line; Canadian Bridge Creek Ranch succession
Issued / recorded: 1981-10-21
Record history (latest 1)
- Updated crest/arms.
3 Sep 2026, 08:18 UTC · Registry system
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