William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury

William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, KG (28 March 1591 – 3 December 1668), known as Viscount Cranborne from 1605 to 1612, was an English peer and politician.

Cecil was the son of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Elizabeth (née Brooke), the daughter of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham.[1] He was born in Westminster on 28 March 1591 and baptized in St Clement Danes on 11 April.[1] William's mother died when he was six years old, and he was subsequently raised by his aunt, Lady Frances Stourton.[1] He was educated at Sherborne School and at St John's College, Cambridge, where he started his terms in 1602, at age eleven.[2]

James I raised Cecil's father to the Peerage of England, creating him Baron Cecil in 1603; Viscount Cranborne in 1604; and Earl of Salisbury in 1605.[1] As a result, in 1605, William received the courtesy title of Viscount Cranborne. In 1608, aged 17, Cranborne's father sent him to France, but quickly recalled him to England to marry Catherine, the daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk in December 1608.[1] His father was determined that Cranborne should spend two years living abroad, and instructed him to return to France following his marriage.[1] However, in mid-1610, James I determined to have his son Henry installed as Prince of Wales and Salisbury (who was currently serving as Lord High Treasurer) instructed his son to return for the ceremony: Cranborne subsequently held the king's train for the ceremony.[1] Following this ceremony, Cranborne returned to Europe, this time to Italy, travelling first to Venice, then to Padua. At Padua, he fell ill, and returned to England resolving never to go abroad again.[1]

Cranborne's father died in 1612, making him the 2nd Earl of Salisbury. He was soon named Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, where he gained a reputation for punctilious service to the king. James I made him a Knight of the Garter in 1624.[1]

Salisbury continued to find favour under James' successor, Charles I, who named Salisbury to his privy council in 1626.[1] Salisbury subsequently conformed during the Personal Rule. He was annoyed when he was not named master of the Court of Wards and Liveries, but was more pleased when he was named Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, a post which he held until 1643.[1]

Salisbury spent much of the 1630s in improving his ancestral seat, Hatfield House.[1] He also made Hatfield House a cultural centre, serving as patron for painter Peter Lely, musician Nicholas Lanier, and gardener John Tradescant the elder.[1]

In the wake of the Bishops' Wars, Salisbury leaned towards the moderate party in the House of Lords which supported the House of Commons in its attempt to remove the elements of arbitrary government introduced into England during the Personal Rule.[1] However, Salisbury resisted throwing in his lot with any of the political factions, and thus remained vulnerable. When the First English Civil War broke out in 1642, Salisbury's estates at Cranborne in Dorset suffered depredations.[1]

In 1648, Salisbury served as a member of a deputation charged with negotiating with Charles at the Isle of Wight.[1] These negotiations (Treaty of Newport) resulted in failure.[1] However, Salisbury refused to approve of the regicide of Charles I.[1]

Following the king's execution, Salisbury decided to support the Commonwealth of England, and agreed to take the Engagement.[1] This decision was influenced by several facts: two of his sons had sided with the parliamentarians during the English Civil War; Parliament voted to indemnify Salisbury's friend Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke for his losses during the war; and several of his close friends, especially Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland (his son-in-law) had sided with Parliament.[1]

Salisbury was a member of the English Council of State from 1649 to 1651 (serving as its president for a while).[1] He became Member of Parliament for King's Lynn in the Rump Parliament.[1]

Salisbury was, however, excluded from public life under The Protectorate: he was elected in 1656 as MP for Hertfordshire in the Second Protectorate Parliament, but Salisbury was not allowed to take his seat.[1]

Salisbury subsequently retired to his home at Hatfield House.[1]

Following The Restoration of 1660, Charles II appointed him high steward of St Albans in 1663.[1]

Salisbury died at Hatfield House on 3 December 1668.[1]

He was succeeded as Earl of Salisbury by his grandson, as his son had predeceased him.

Lord Salisbury married Lady Catherine Howard, a daughter of the 1st Earl of Suffolk, on 1 December 1608. They had twelve children, including:

• James Cecil, Viscount Cranborne (b. & d. 1616)
• Charles Cecil, Viscount Cranborne (1619–1660), father of the 3rd Earl of Salisbury.
• Lady Anne Cecil (d. 1637), married the 10th Earl of Northumberland and had issue.
• Lady Diana Cecil (1622–1633), died young.
• Lady Catherine Cecil (d. 1652), married the 3rd Earl of Leicester and had issue.
• Lady Elizabeth Cecil (d. 1689), married the 3rd Earl of Devonshire and had issue.
• Algernon Cecil (d. 1676)

References

• 1.^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z G. D. Owen. "Cecil, William, second earl of Salisbury (1591–1668)," in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004-2007.
• 2.^ Venn, J.; Venn, J. A., eds. (1922–1958). "Cecill, William". Alumni Cantabrigienses (10 vols) (online ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cecil,_2nd_Earl_of_Salisbury
• _______________________
• 'William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury1
• 'M, #10546, b. 28 March 1591, d. 3 December 1668
• Last Edited=7 May 2011
• ' William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury was born on 28 March 1591.1 He was the son of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Hon. Elizabeth Brooke.1 He married Lady Catherine Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk and Katherine Knyvett, on 1 December 1608.1 He died on 3 December 1668 at age 77.1
• ' He was educated at Westminster School, Westminster, London, England.1 He was educated at Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset, England.1 He graduated from Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1605 with a Master of Arts (M.A.).1 He graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1605 with a Master of Arts (M.A.).1 He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Bath (K.B.) in January 1604/5.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Weymouth from 1610 to 1611.1 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire in 1612.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Viscount Cranborne, co. Dorset [E., 1604] on 24 May 1612.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Earl of Salisbury [E., 1605] on 24 May 1612.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baron Cecil of Essendon, co. Rutland [E., 1603] on 24 May 1612.1 He held the office of Ranger of Enfield Chase between 1622 and 1661.1 He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) in 1624.1 He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1626.1 He held the office of Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners between 1635 and 1642.1 He was Parliamentarian Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Dorset and Poole in 1641/42.1 He was Commissioner to hold Courts Martial in 1644.1 In 1645 he was voted a marquessate by Parliament.1 He was Commissioner to the Uxbridge Conference in January 1644/45.1 He was Commissioner to the Committees for Excise in June 1645.1 He was Commissioner to the Admiralty in October 1645.1 He was Commissioner to Foreign Plantations in March 1645/46.1 He was Commissioner for the Great Seal from July 1646 to October 1646.1 He was member of the Committee for Navy and Customs in 1647.1 He was Commissioner to the Newport Conference in 1648.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for King's Lynn between 1649 and 1653.1 He held the office of Member of the Council of State from February 1648/49 to 1651.1 He held the office of Member of the Council of State from 1652 to 1653.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for King's Lynn between 1656 and 1658.1 He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.2
• 'Children of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury and Lady Catherine Howard
  • 1.Hon. Robert Cecil1
  • 2.Hon. Philip Cecil1
  • 3.Hon. William Cecil1
  • 4.Hon. Algernon Cecil+1 d. Nov 1676
  • 5.Hon. Edward Cecil1
  • 6.Lady Anne Cecil+2 b. 1612, d. 6 Dec 1637
  • 7.James Cecil, Viscount Cranborne1 b. Mar 1616, d. Oct 1616
  • 8.Lady Elizabeth Cecil+3 b. 1619, d. 19 Nov 1689
  • 9.Charles Cecil, Viscount Cranborne+1 b. 15 Jul 1619, d. Dec 1660
  • 10.Lady Diana Cecil1 b. 1622, d. 1633
  • 11.Lady Catherine Cecil+4 b. c 1628, d. 18 Aug 1652
  • 12.Lady Mary Cecil1 b. c 1631, d. c 1676
• Citations
• 1.[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 3, page 3504. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
• 2.[S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 182. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
• 3.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1127.
• 4.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1078.
• From: http://thepeerage.com/p1055.htm#i10546
• __________________

http://records.ancestry.com/William_Cecil_records.ashx?pid=9989126

http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I61277&tree=...

William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, KG (28 March 1591 – 3 December 1668), known as Viscount Cranborne from 1605 to 1612, was an English peer and politician.

Cecil was the son of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Elizabeth (née Brooke), the daughter of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham.[1] He was born in Westminster on 28 March 1591 and baptized in St Clement Danes on 11 April.[1] William's mother died when he was six years old, and he was subsequently raised by his aunt, Lady Frances Stourton.[1] He was educated at Sherborne School and at St John's College, Cambridge, where he started his terms in 1602, at age eleven.[2]

James I raised Cecil's father to the Peerage of England, creating him Baron Cecil in 1603; Viscount Cranborne in 1604; and Earl of Salisbury in 1605.[1] As a result, in 1605, William received the courtesy title of Viscount Cranborne. In 1608, aged 17, Cranborne's father sent him to France, but quickly recalled him to England to marry Catherine, the daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk in December 1608.[1] His father was determined that Cranborne should spend two years living abroad, and instructed him to return to France following his marriage.[1] However, in mid-1610, James I determined to have his son Henry installed as Prince of Wales and Salisbury (who was currently serving as Lord High Treasurer) instructed his son to return for the ceremony: Cranborne subsequently held the king's train for the ceremony.[1] Following this ceremony, Cranborne returned to Europe, this time to Italy, travelling first to Venice, then to Padua. At Padua, he fell ill, and returned to England resolving never to go abroad again.[1]

Cranborne's father died in 1612, making him the 2nd Earl of Salisbury. He was soon named Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, where he gained a reputation for punctilious service to the king. James I made him a Knight of the Garter in 1624.[1]

Salisbury continued to find favour under James' successor, Charles I, who named Salisbury to his privy council in 1626.[1] Salisbury subsequently conformed during the Personal Rule. He was annoyed when he was not named master of the Court of Wards and Liveries, but was more pleased when he was named Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, a post which he held until 1643.[1]

Salisbury spent much of the 1630s in improving his ancestral seat, Hatfield House.[1] He also made Hatfield House a cultural centre, serving as patron for painter Peter Lely, musician Nicholas Lanier, and gardener John Tradescant the elder.[1]

In the wake of the Bishops' Wars, Salisbury leaned towards the moderate party in the House of Lords which supported the House of Commons in its attempt to remove the elements of arbitrary government introduced into England during the Personal Rule.[1] However, Salisbury resisted throwing in his lot with any of the political factions, and thus remained vulnerable. When the First English Civil War broke out in 1642, Salisbury's estates at Cranborne in Dorset suffered depredations.[1]

In 1648, Salisbury served as a member of a deputation charged with negotiating with Charles at the Isle of Wight.[1] These negotiations (Treaty of Newport) resulted in failure.[1] However, Salisbury refused to approve of the regicide of Charles I.[1]

Following the king's execution, Salisbury decided to support the Commonwealth of England, and agreed to take the Engagement.[1] This decision was influenced by several facts: two of his sons had sided with the parliamentarians during the English Civil War; Parliament voted to indemnify Salisbury's friend Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke for his losses during the war; and several of his close friends, especially Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland (his son-in-law) had sided with Parliament.[1]

Salisbury was a member of the English Council of State from 1649 to 1651 (serving as its president for a while).[1] He became Member of Parliament for King's Lynn in the Rump Parliament.[1]

Salisbury was, however, excluded from public life under The Protectorate: he was elected in 1656 as MP for Hertfordshire in the Second Protectorate Parliament, but Salisbury was not allowed to take his seat.[1]

Salisbury subsequently retired to his home at Hatfield House.[1]

Following The Restoration of 1660, Charles II appointed him high steward of St Albans in 1663.[1]

Salisbury died at Hatfield House on 3 December 1668.[1]

He was succeeded as Earl of Salisbury by his grandson, as his son had predeceased him.

Lord Salisbury married Lady Catherine Howard, a daughter of the 1st Earl of Suffolk, on 1 December 1608. They had twelve children, including:

James Cecil, Viscount Cranborne (b. & d. 1616) Charles Cecil, Viscount Cranborne (1619–1660), father of the 3rd Earl of Salisbury. Lady Anne Cecil (d. 1637), married the 10th Earl of Northumberland and had issue. Lady Diana Cecil (1622–1633), died young. Lady Catherine Cecil (d. 1652), married the 3rd Earl of Leicester and had issue. Lady Elizabeth Cecil (d. 1689), married the 3rd Earl of Devonshire and had issue. Algernon Cecil (d. 1676) References

1.^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z G. D. Owen. "Cecil, William, second earl of Salisbury (1591–1668)," in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004-2007. 2.^ Venn, J.; Venn, J. A., eds. (1922–1958). "Cecill, William". Alumni Cantabrigienses (10 vols) (online ed.). Cambridge University Press. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cecil,_2nd_Earl_of_Salisbury _______________________ 'William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury1 'M, #10546, b. 28 March 1591, d. 3 December 1668 Last Edited=7 May 2011 ' William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury was born on 28 March 1591.1 He was the son of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Hon. Elizabeth Brooke.1 He married Lady Catherine Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk and Katherine Knyvett, on 1 December 1608.1 He died on 3 December 1668 at age 77.1 ' He was educated at Westminster School, Westminster, London, England.1 He was educated at Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset, England.1 He graduated from Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1605 with a Master of Arts (M.A.).1 He graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1605 with a Master of Arts (M.A.).1 He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Bath (K.B.) in January 1604/5.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Weymouth from 1610 to 1611.1 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire in 1612.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Viscount Cranborne, co. Dorset [E., 1604] on 24 May 1612.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Earl of Salisbury [E., 1605] on 24 May 1612.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baron Cecil of Essendon, co. Rutland [E., 1603] on 24 May 1612.1 He held the office of Ranger of Enfield Chase between 1622 and 1661.1 He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) in 1624.1 He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1626.1 He held the office of Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners between 1635 and 1642.1 He was Parliamentarian Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Dorset and Poole in 1641/42.1 He was Commissioner to hold Courts Martial in 1644.1 In 1645 he was voted a marquessate by Parliament.1 He was Commissioner to the Uxbridge Conference in January 1644/45.1 He was Commissioner to the Committees for Excise in June 1645.1 He was Commissioner to the Admiralty in October 1645.1 He was Commissioner to Foreign Plantations in March 1645/46.1 He was Commissioner for the Great Seal from July 1646 to October 1646.1 He was member of the Committee for Navy and Customs in 1647.1 He was Commissioner to the Newport Conference in 1648.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for King's Lynn between 1649 and 1653.1 He held the office of Member of the Council of State from February 1648/49 to 1651.1 He held the office of Member of the Council of State from 1652 to 1653.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for King's Lynn between 1656 and 1658.1 He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.2 'Children of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury and Lady Catherine Howard 1.Hon. Robert Cecil1 2.Hon. Philip Cecil1 3.Hon. William Cecil1 4.Hon. Algernon Cecil+1 d. Nov 1676 5.Hon. Edward Cecil1 6.Lady Anne Cecil+2 b. 1612, d. 6 Dec 1637 7.James Cecil, Viscount Cranborne1 b. Mar 1616, d. Oct 1616 8.Lady Elizabeth Cecil+3 b. 1619, d. 19 Nov 1689 9.Charles Cecil, Viscount Cranborne+1 b. 15 Jul 1619, d. Dec 1660 10.Lady Diana Cecil1 b. 1622, d. 1633 11.Lady Catherine Cecil+4 b. c 1628, d. 18 Aug 1652 12.Lady Mary Cecil1 b. c 1631, d. c 1676 Citations 1.[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 3, page 3504. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition. 2.[S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 182. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage. 3.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1127. 4.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1078. From: http://thepeerage.com/p1055.htm#i10546 __________________ http://records.ancestry.com/William_Cecil_records.ashx?pid=9989126

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