William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter, 3rd Baron Burghley, Knight of the Garter, Member of Parliament, Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, Privy Councillor., KG, Member of Parliament for Stamford and Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire., Member of Parliament for Stamford, Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, Member of Parliament for Stamford and Rutland
Dates: 1566–6 July 1640
Biography
Eldest son of Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter, and Dorothy Neville. He inherited the Exeter title in 1623 and displayed the family achievement incorporating the Neville Latimer quarter transmitted through his mother. His succession established the Neville connection as a visible heraldic component of the Exeter branch.
Notes / Sources
Wikimedia Commons, Coat of arms of Sir William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_Sir_William_Cecil,_2nd_Earl_of_Exeter,_KG.png
Wikimedia Commons, vector achievement of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arms_of_William_Cecil,_2nd_Earl_of_Exeter.svg
Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society, Dorothy Neville family group — https://www.cuhags.cam/gen/tng/familygroup.php?familyID=F731&tree=tree1
Family / Armorial Context
Family / cadet branch: Cecil of Exeter
Father: Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter
Mother: Dorothy Neville
Spouse(s): Elizabeth Drury
Children / next generation: William Cecil, 16th Baron Ros; Lady Anne Cecil; Lady Diana Cecil; Lady Elizabeth Cecil
Armorial Registry
Cecil of Exeter — William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter, Drury matrimonial impalement
Branch: Senior Exeter line; Burghley House
Issued / recorded: 1605
Cecil of Exeter — William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter, six-quarter achievement incorporating the Neville-Latimer quarter
Branch: Senior Exeter Cecil succession through Dorothy Neville
Issued / recorded: 1605
Cecil of Exeter — William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter, Garter-era quartered achievement
Branch: Second-generation senior Exeter line; son of Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter
Issued / recorded: 1623
Cecil of Exeter — William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter, Neville Latimer quartering
Branch: Cecil of Exeter; maternal Neville-Latimer quartering from Dorothy Neville
Issued / recorded: 1623
Cecil of Exeter — William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter, direct achievement showing the Neville-Latimer quarter inherited through Dorothy Neville
Branch: Senior Exeter Cecil line descended from Thomas Cecil and Dorothy Neville
Issued / recorded: January 1565/1566
Record history (latest 1)
- Updated crest/arms.
3 Sep 2026, 09:19 UTC · Registry system
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