James Cecil, 6th Earl of Salisbury

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James Cecil, 6th Earl of Salisbury ( October 20, 1713 - September 19, 1780 ) was a British peer and politician.

Life

Cecil was the eldest son of James Cecil, 5th Earl of Salisbury and his wife Lady Anne Cecil, daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet . He was trained at the Westminster School . When his father died in 1728, he inherited his title of nobility as 6th Earl of Salisbury and his extensive estates including the family estate of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire . From 1735 to 1780 he held the office of Hertford High Steward . At times he was also governor of the Foundling Hospital in London .

On March 28, 1745 he married Elizabeth Keet († 1776), daughter of Edward Keet from Canterbury . Elizabeth is said to have been a barber and tour guide and was the sister of the Parish Pastor of Hatfield , Rev. John Keet. With her he had two daughters, Lady Anne Cecil (1746-1813) and Lady Bennet Cecil (1747-1769), both of whom died unmarried, and a son, James Cecil (1748-1823), who made him 7th Earl of 1780 Salisbury inherited and in 1789 was raised to Marquess of Salisbury . After a few years he separated from his wife and lived the remaining thirty years in seclusion on his country estate Quickswood near Clothall in Hertfordshire with his lover Mary Grave († 1789) from Baldock in Hertfordshire. With her he had seven illegitimate children, including the future parish priest of Hatfield and Clothall, Rev. James Cecil Grave. When Cecil died in 1780, according to the will, Mary Grave received £ 50,000 as well as jewelry, silver and furniture that came from the family estate of Hatfield House . In addition, his children received £ 43,000 from the relationship. His legitimate son and title heir, the 7th Earl, unsuccessfully challenged the will and had Quickswood torn down around 1790.

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predecessor Office successor
James Cecil Earl of Salisbury
1728-1780 		James Cecil
personal data
SURNAME Cecil, James, 6th Earl of Salisbury
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British peer and politician
DATE OF BIRTH October 20, 1713
DATE OF DEATH September 19, 1780