Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter
Encyclopedia
Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter (14 March 1754 – 1 May 1804), known as Henry Cecil from 1754 to 1793 and as The Earl of Exeter from 1793 to 1801, was a British
peer
and Member of Parliament
.
. Thomas Chambers Cecil led a profligate life, and although for a time an MP he was forced to live abroad in Brussels, where he married Charlotte Garnier, a lady of uncertain origin, said by some to be a Basque dancer. When Henry was born in 1754 he was the heir presumptive to his uncle Brownlow Cecil, 9th Earl of Exeter
, and for this reason was sent when still a baby to Burghley House to be brought up.
and St John's College, Cambridge
. In 1774, when still only 20, he was returned as MP for the family controlled borough of Stamford
, a seat he held until 1790. In 1793 he succeeded his uncle as tenth Earl of Exeter and entered the House of Lords
. In February 1801 he was created Marquess of Exeter, the first marquess
ate to be created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
. But although Henry Cecil had wide interests, it is not recorded that he ever made much contribution to the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
, in 1776. Emma was an heiress, and was able to add the considerable income from the Vernon estates in Worcestershire (her father had died in 1771) and elsewhere to her husband's own allowance, but despite having a large income the couple seem to have got into debt. They had one son born in 1777 who died aged two months, but no further children.
In the early years of his marriage Henry devoted his energies to modernising and improving his residence at Hanbury Hall and the estates. An enclosure act for Hanbury was passed in 1781, and exchanges of land were made to consolidate the holdings so that they could be made into more economic farms with better rents.
In 1785 a new curate for Hanbury church, Rev William Sneyd, was appointed, and soon afterwards Henry's wife Emma started an affair with him. She eventually confessed what was happening to her husband in May 1789, pleading to be allowed to live with her lover, but Henry of course resisted this. After much emotional turmoil Henry agreed to his wife having one last meeting with Sneyd in Birmingham, and during that meeting the couple eloped together, and Henry had to return to Hanbury alone.
By this time he was deeply in debt, and decided to abandon Hanbury for good, and instructed his friend the rector, Rev William Burslem, to collect the rents and use them to pay off his debts, while Henry left to live a quiet and simple life under an assumed name. He chose to buy a small holding in the Shropshire village of Great Bolas, and lived there calling himself John Jones. Some time soon after he fell in love with and married in April 1790 Sarah, the simple 16 year old daughter of local farmer Thomas Hoggins. As Henry had done nothing about procuring a divorce the marriage was bigamous, a serious offence at the time. Only in 1791 did Henry obtain a divorce by Act of Parliament, after which he and Sarah went through a second marriage ceremony on 3 October 1791 at St. Mildred Bread Street, London (the register records him as "Batchelor" and her as "Spinster"), thus making the union legitimate. In February the following year their first child, Sophia, was born, and in 1793 a son Henry was born, also in Great Bolas, but died soon afterwards.
In December 1793 his uncle died, and Henry inherited the vast Cecil estates, and moved to Burghley House with his new family. Sarah had two more children, Brownlow born in 1795, who was to inherit his father's title and estates, and Thomas born in 1797. But Sarah died after the birth of Thomas, still aged only 23, and in 1800 Henry took as his third wife Elizabeth Anne Burrell, daughter of Peter Burrell
and former wife of Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton
, in 1800. They had no children. Lord Exeter died in May 1804, aged 50, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Brownlow
. The Marchioness of Exeter died at Privy Gardens, Whitehall
, London
, in January 1837, aged 79.
Sarah Hoggins became known as the Cottage Countess, and never seems to have adapted to her role as the mistress of a great household. The episode is recounted in Tennyson's poem of that name, and was investigated by Elisabeth Inglis-Jones in her book The Lord of Burghley and by Andrew Harris for his book The Vernons of Hanbury Hall.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Background
Exeter was the son of the Hon. Thomas Chambers Cecil, second son of Brownlow Cecil, 8th Earl of ExeterBrownlow Cecil, 8th Earl of Exeter
Brownlow Cecil, 8th Earl of Exeter , known as the Honourable Brownlow Cecil from 1701 to 1722, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.-Life:...
. Thomas Chambers Cecil led a profligate life, and although for a time an MP he was forced to live abroad in Brussels, where he married Charlotte Garnier, a lady of uncertain origin, said by some to be a Basque dancer. When Henry was born in 1754 he was the heir presumptive to his uncle Brownlow Cecil, 9th Earl of Exeter
Brownlow Cecil, 9th Earl of Exeter
Brownlow Cecil, 9th Earl of Exeter , known as Lord Burghley from 1725 to 1754, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.-Life:...
, and for this reason was sent when still a baby to Burghley House to be brought up.
Political career
He attended Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. In 1774, when still only 20, he was returned as MP for the family controlled borough of Stamford
Stamford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stamford was a constituency in the county of Lincolnshire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
, a seat he held until 1790. In 1793 he succeeded his uncle as tenth Earl of Exeter and entered the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In February 1801 he was created Marquess of Exeter, the first marquess
Marquess
A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
ate to be created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
. But although Henry Cecil had wide interests, it is not recorded that he ever made much contribution to the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
Family
Henry Cecil married, firstly, Emma Vernon, daughter of Thomas Vernon, of Hanbury HallHanbury Hall
Hanbury Hall was built by the chancery lawyer Thomas Vernon in the early 18th century. Thomas Vernon was the great grandson of the first Vernon to come to Hanbury, Worcestershire, Rev Richard Vernon...
, in 1776. Emma was an heiress, and was able to add the considerable income from the Vernon estates in Worcestershire (her father had died in 1771) and elsewhere to her husband's own allowance, but despite having a large income the couple seem to have got into debt. They had one son born in 1777 who died aged two months, but no further children.
In the early years of his marriage Henry devoted his energies to modernising and improving his residence at Hanbury Hall and the estates. An enclosure act for Hanbury was passed in 1781, and exchanges of land were made to consolidate the holdings so that they could be made into more economic farms with better rents.
In 1785 a new curate for Hanbury church, Rev William Sneyd, was appointed, and soon afterwards Henry's wife Emma started an affair with him. She eventually confessed what was happening to her husband in May 1789, pleading to be allowed to live with her lover, but Henry of course resisted this. After much emotional turmoil Henry agreed to his wife having one last meeting with Sneyd in Birmingham, and during that meeting the couple eloped together, and Henry had to return to Hanbury alone.
By this time he was deeply in debt, and decided to abandon Hanbury for good, and instructed his friend the rector, Rev William Burslem, to collect the rents and use them to pay off his debts, while Henry left to live a quiet and simple life under an assumed name. He chose to buy a small holding in the Shropshire village of Great Bolas, and lived there calling himself John Jones. Some time soon after he fell in love with and married in April 1790 Sarah, the simple 16 year old daughter of local farmer Thomas Hoggins. As Henry had done nothing about procuring a divorce the marriage was bigamous, a serious offence at the time. Only in 1791 did Henry obtain a divorce by Act of Parliament, after which he and Sarah went through a second marriage ceremony on 3 October 1791 at St. Mildred Bread Street, London (the register records him as "Batchelor" and her as "Spinster"), thus making the union legitimate. In February the following year their first child, Sophia, was born, and in 1793 a son Henry was born, also in Great Bolas, but died soon afterwards.
In December 1793 his uncle died, and Henry inherited the vast Cecil estates, and moved to Burghley House with his new family. Sarah had two more children, Brownlow born in 1795, who was to inherit his father's title and estates, and Thomas born in 1797. But Sarah died after the birth of Thomas, still aged only 23, and in 1800 Henry took as his third wife Elizabeth Anne Burrell, daughter of Peter Burrell
Peter Burrell (1724-1775)
Peter Burrell FRS was a British politician and barrister.Born in London, he was the son of Peter Burrell and his wife Amy Raymond, daughter of Hugh Raymond. His uncle was Sir Merrick Burrell, 1st Baronet and his younger brother Sir William Burrell, 2nd Baronet...
and former wife of Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton
Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton
Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton and 5th Duke of Brandon KT was a Scottish peer.Hamilton was born at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the son of the 6th Duke of Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth Gunning...
, in 1800. They had no children. Lord Exeter died in May 1804, aged 50, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Brownlow
Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter
Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter KG, PC , styled Lord Burghley until 1804, was a British peer, courtier and Tory politician...
. The Marchioness of Exeter died at Privy Gardens, Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in January 1837, aged 79.
Sarah Hoggins became known as the Cottage Countess, and never seems to have adapted to her role as the mistress of a great household. The episode is recounted in Tennyson's poem of that name, and was investigated by Elisabeth Inglis-Jones in her book The Lord of Burghley and by Andrew Harris for his book The Vernons of Hanbury Hall.