Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter

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Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter KG (May 5, 1542–February 8, 1623), known as Lord Burghley from 1598 to 1605, was an English politician and soldier.

Exeter was the eldest son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, and the half-brother of Robert Cecil (see below). he served in government under Elizabeth I of England, first serving in the House of Commons in 1563 and representing various constituencies for most of the time from then until 1593. He was knighted in 1575. His father's death in 1598 brought him a seat in the House of Lords, the 2nd Lord Burghley, as he then was, served from 1599 to 1603 as Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire and Lord President of the Council of the North. It was during this period that Queen Elizabeth made him a Knight of the Garter in 1601. He was created Earl of Exeter on May 4, 1605, the same day his half-brother Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cranborne was created 1st Earl of Salisbury. Unlike his brother, however, he did not become a Government minister under James I.

The Cecil family fostered arts; they supported musicians such as William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons and Thomas Robinson. The latter, in his youth, was in the service of Thomas Cecil ^[1].

Lord Exeter is buried in a tomb in the warrior chapel at St Mary's church in Wimbledon village.

Political offices
Preceded by The Lord Burghley	Custos Rotulorum of Lincolnshire bef. 1594 – aft. 1608	Succeeded by Lord Burghley
Preceded by Kenelm Digby	Custos Rotulorum of Rutland bef. 1594–1623	Succeeded by The Marquess of Buckingham
Preceded by Vacant	Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire 1599–1603	Succeeded by The Lord Sheffield
Peerage of England
Preceded by William Cecil	Baron Burghley 1598–1623	Succeeded by William Cecil
Preceded by New Creation	Earl of Exeter 1605–1623

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