Marquess of Exeter - Definition and Overview

The title of Marquess of Exeter was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1801 for the Earl of Exeter. It is the senior marquessate in the Peerage of the UK. An earlier Marquessate was created in 1525 for the Earl of Devon, but was forfeit in 1538.

The present Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Exeter (1605) and Baron Burghley (1571), both in the Peerage of England.

Marquesses of Exeter, First Creation (1525)

• Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter (1498-1539) (forfeit 1538)

Barons Burghley (1571)

• William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (1521-1598)
• Thomas Cecil, 2nd Baron Burghley (1542-1623) (became Earl of Exeter in 1605)

Earls of Exeter (1605)

• Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter (1542-1623)
• William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter (1566-1640)
• David Cecil, 3rd Earl of Exeter (c. 1600-1643)
• John Cecil, 4th Earl of Exeter (1628-1678)
• John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter (c. 1648-1700)
• John Cecil, 6th Earl of Exeter (1674-1721)
• John Cecil, 7th Earl of Exeter (c. 1700-1722)
• Brownlow Cecil, 8th Earl of Exeter (1701-1754)
• Brownlow Cecil, 9th Earl of Exeter (1725-1793)
• Henry Cecil, 10th Earl of Exeter (1754-1804) (became Marquess of Exeter in 1801)

Marquesses of Exeter, Second Creation (1801)

• Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter (1754-1804)
• Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter (1795-1867)
• William Alleyne Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter (1825-1895)
• Brownlow Henry George Cecil, 4th Marquess of Exeter (1849-1898)
• William Thomas Brownlow Cecil, 5th Marquess of Exeter (1876-1956)
• David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter (1905-1981)
• William Martin Alleyne Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter (1909-1988)
• William Michael Anthony Cecil, 8th Marquess of Exeter (b. 1935)

his son and heir: Anthony John Cecil, Lord Burghley (b. August 9 1970)