Lord William Cecil CVO

Key facts

• Born: 2 November 1854, Burghley House, Stamford
• Died: 16 April 1943, Sussex
• Parents: William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter, and Lady Georgina Sophia Pakenham
• Family: Member of the prominent Cecil aristocratic family
• Military service: Colonel, 4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
• Campaign: Served in the Suakin Expedition (1885) in Sudan
• Royal court role: Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria (1892–1901)
• Royal court role: Extra Gentleman-Usher to Kings George V and George VI
• Public service: Chairman, North Eastern Hospital for Children
• Occupation: British army officer and royal courtier

Biography

Lord William Cecil was a British aristocrat, army officer, and royal courtier from the influential Cecil family. He was the younger son of William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter and was connected to one of Britain’s most prominent political dynasties. Cecil served in the British Army, reaching the rank of colonel in the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, and took part in the Suakin Expedition. Alongside his military career, he served at court as Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria from 1892 to 1901 and later as an Extra Gentleman-Usher to King George V and King George VI, roles that involved assisting with royal ceremonies and official events.

He was married to Mary, the eldest daughter of William Tysson-Amherst, the 1st Baron Amherst of Hackney.

Outside military and court service, Cecil was active in charitable and civic work. Under his father-in-law, he served as chairman of the North Eastern Hospital for Children, reflecting his involvement in philanthropic efforts supporting healthcare for children in London. Through both his public service and charitable work, Cecil remained a figure associated with the traditional duties of the British aristocracy in the late Victorian and early twentieth centuries. He died on 16 April 1943 at the age of 88.