John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter

John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter.

John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter (c. 1648 – 29 August 1700), known as Lord Burghley until 1678, was a British peer and Member of Parliament. He was also known as the Travelling Earl.

Anne, Countess of Exeter, wife of the 5th Earl, mezzotint after Peter Lely, c. 1690

Life

Exeter was the son of John Cecil, 4th Earl of Exeter, (1628–1678) and Lady Frances Manners. He was educated at Stamford School and St John's College, Cambridge. He was elected to the House of Commons for Northamptonshire in 1675, a seat he held until 1678 when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords.

He was a notable Grand Tourist and filled his family home, Burghley House, with treasures purchased on his travels in Italy.

Lord Exeter married Lady Anne, daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire, in circa 1670, they had nine children. He died in August 1700 and was succeeded in his titles by his son John Cecil, 6th Earl of Exeter.

See also

• List of deserters from James II to William of Orange

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• www.thepeerage.com