People

Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil

Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil (née Tyssen-Amherst), 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney (1857–1919), was a British aristocrat, traveler, and amateur Egyptologist. Known also as Lady William Cecil, she combined her social standing with an active interest in archaeology and ornithology, contributing to early excavations in Egypt.

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Early life and family

Born into the Tyssen-Amherst family, Mary inherited the barony upon her father’s death in 1909, becoming the 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney. The family seat, Didlington Hall in Norfolk, housed a notable collection of books and Egyptian antiquities assembled through her father’s expeditions and scholarly interests. She married Lord William Cecil in 1885, linking two prominent British families.

Archaeology and travel

Mary Cecil participated in archaeological excavations in Egypt and helped catalog finds from sites such as Deir el-Bahri and Thebes, some of which later entered the British Museum collections. Her travel writings and field notes reflected the era’s growing fascination with Egyptology and the increasing visibility of women in scientific pursuits.

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People important to the story of the North Eastern Hospital for Children