CECIL, Sir William (1520 or 1521-98), of Little Burghley, Northants., Stamford, Lincs., Wimbledon, Surr., Westminster, Mdx. and London.

Family and Education

b. 13 Sept. 1520 or 1521, o.s. of Richard Cecil of Little Burghley, Stamford and Westminster by Jane, da. of William Heckington of Bourne, Lincs. educ. Grantham g.s.; Stamford g.s.; St. John’s, Camb. May 1535; G. Inn adm. 6 May 1541. m. (1) 8 Aug. 1541, Mary (d. 22 Feb. 1544), da. of Peter Cheke of Cambridge, Cambs., 1s. Thomas; (2) 21 Dec. 1545, Mildred (d. 5 Apr. 1589), da. of Sir Anthony Cooke of Gidea Hall, Essex, 2s. inc. Robert 3da. Kntd. 11 Oct. 1551 suc. fa. 19 Mar. 1553; cr. Baron of Burghley 25 Feb. 1572.C. Read. Mr. Sec. Cecil and Q. Eliz; DNB; CP; Vis. Northants. ed. Metcalfe, 78-9; D. Powel, The Historie of Cambria (1584), 142-7; SP10/13/56; N. and Q. ccxx. 294-5.

Offices Held

Recorder, Boston from 1545, Stamford by 1580; j.p. Lincs. (Holland, Kesteven) 1547, Mdx. 1559, q. Lincs. (Holland, Kesteven, Lindsey) from 1554, Mdx., Northants., Surr. from 1559, Mdx. from 1561, Rutland from 1574; custos brev. c.p. 6 May 1548; sec. to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset 1548; custos rot. Lincs. 6 July 1549, Northants. by 1573; sec. of state 5 Sept. 1550 – July 1553, 20 Nov. 1558–72; PC 5 Sept. 1550 – July 1553, from 20 Nov. 1558; surveyor, estates of Princess Elizabeth by 1550, ct. of augmentations, Lincs. by 1552; chancellor, order of the Garter 12 Apr. 1553; steward, Stamford by 1560, Bolingbroke honour, Lincs. 1585 – 97; high steward, Westminster 1561, Bristol 1588, Great Yarmouth Sept. 1588 – Sept. 1597, King’s Lynn 1592, St. Albans temp. Eliz.; master, ct. of wards from 10 Jan. 1568; ld. lt. Mdx. 1568, Lincs. 1587, Essex, Herts. 1588; keeper, privy seal Apr. – June 1571, ?1590; ld. treasurer from July 1572.CPR, 1547–8 to 1572–5 passim; Somrville, Duchy, i.537, 577; Rep. Roy. Comm. of 1552 (Archs. Br. Hist. and Culture iii), xxv. n. 54; W. C. Richardson, Ct. of Augmentations, 382; Bristol AO, 04720/2/i; Stamford hall bk. 1461–1657, f. 172.

Parlimentarian

CECIL, William (1520/21-1598), of Little Burghley, Northants.; Stamford, Lincs.; Wimbledon, Surr.; Westminster, Mdx. and London.

Main residences: Little Burghley, Northants.; Stamford, Lincs.; Wimbledon, Surr.; Westminster, Mdx.; London.

Author

M.A.P.

Volume

Commons 1558-1603

Web Title

CECIL, Sir William (1521-98)

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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