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Cecil was born in Bourne, England in 1520, the son of Richard Cecil, 1st Baron Cecil (owner of the Burghley estate in Northamptonshire) and his wife Jane Heckington. The estate is today open to the public and is the setting for a popular equestrian event. Cecil was educated at Cambridge University and in 1547 was given a post in the household of King Henry VIII of England.
His early career was spent in the service of Edward, Duke of Somerset (a brother of the late queen Jane Seymour). When Somerset, a powerful figure during the reign of his nephew, King Edward VI of England, was disgraced and executed, Cecil lost his position but was soon restored and promoted, being knighted in 1550. He survived the reign of Edward's successor, Mary, by diplomatically adopting the Catholic faith, but it seems that he already recognized the potential of the queen's younger sister, Elizabeth, whom he coached for the monarchy. When she came to the throne in 1558, she appointed him secretary of state. In 1571 she created him 1st Baron Burghley, and in 1572 named him Lord High Treasurer on the death of the Marquess of Winchester.
Burghley continued to hold the dominant position in Elizabeth's administration right up until his death in 1598 and contributed hugely to her success as queen. His younger son, Robert Cecil, inherited his political mantle, taking on the role of chief minister and arranging a smooth transfer of power to the Stuart administration under King James I of EnglandJames VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) ( 19 June 1566 27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24.
| Preceded by: Nicholas Wotton | Secretary of StateUnited Kingdom In the United Kingdom, a Secretary of State is a senior Cabinet Minister in charge of a Government Department. Secretary of State positions can be created without primary legislation; and legislation refers to 'Secretary of State', which is 1550–1553 | Followed by: Sir John Bourne |
| Preceded by: John Boxall | Secretary of StateUnited Kingdom In the United Kingdom, a Secretary of State is a senior Cabinet Minister in charge of a Government Department. Secretary of State positions can be created without primary legislation; and legislation refers to 'Secretary of State', which is 1558–1572 | Followed by: Sir Thomas SmithSir Thomas Smith ( December 23, 1513 August 12, 1577), was an English scholar and diplomat. He was born at Saffron Walden in Essex. He became a fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1530, and in 1533 was appointed a public reader or professor. He lectu |
| Preceded by: The Marquess of Winchester | Lord High Treasurer 1572–1598 | Followed by: The Earl of DorsetThomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset ( 1536 1608) was an English statesman and poet. He was a Member of Parliament, and Lord Treasurer. His house, Knole House, at Knole in Kent, is celebrated. He was author, with Thomas Norton, of the play Gorboduc (1562) |
| Preceded by: Sir Francis Walsingham | Lord Privy Seal 1590–1598 | Followed by: Sir Robert Cecil |
| Preceded by: New Creation | Baron Burghley | Succeeded by: Thomas Cecil |