William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley

English statesman and chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I (1520-1598)
Person human Q354309
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley

Summary

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley is a human[1]. He was born in Bourne[2]. He was born on September 13, 1520[3]. He passed away in Westminster[4]. He died on August 4, 1598[5]. He worked as a politician[6], baron[7], and minister[8]. He ranks in the top 0.65% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,947 views/month, #6,515 of 1,000,298).[9]

Key Facts

  • Born in Bourne[2], William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley…
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley passed away in Westminster[4].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was born on September 13, 1520[3].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley died on August 4, 1598[5].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley died on August 5, 1598[10].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley is buried at St Martin's Church, Stamford[11].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's father was Richard Cecil[12].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's mother was Jane Heckington[13].
  • Among William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's spouses was Mildred Cooke[14].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was married to Mary Cheke[15].
  • A child of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter[16].
  • A child of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury[17].
  • A child of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was Anne Cecil, Countess of Oxford[18].
  • A child of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was Elizabeth Cecil[19].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley held citizenship in Kingdom of England[20].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley worked as a politician[6].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley worked as a baron[7].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's professions included minister[8].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley held the position of Lord High Treasurer[21].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley held the position of Secretary of State of England[22].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley held the position of Lord Privy Seal[23].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley held the position of Member of the 1542-44 Parliament[24].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley held the position of Member of the 1547-1552 Parliament[25].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley held the position of Member of the March 1553 Parliament[26].
  • William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was employed by University of Cambridge[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Bourne[2], William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley… he was born on September 13, 1520[3]. His father was Richard Cecil[12]. His mother was Jane Heckington[13].

Education

Educated at St John's College[28], a college of the University of Cambridge[29], in United Kingdom[30], founded in 1511[31]; Stamford School[32], an independent school[33], in United Kingdom[34], founded in 1532[35]; and The King's School, Grantham[36], a grammar school[37], in United Kingdom[38], founded in 1528[39].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include politician[6], baron[7], and minister[8]. William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was employed by University of Cambridge[27]. Positions held include Lord High Treasurer[21], a position[40], founded in 1158[41]; Secretary of State of England[22], a position[42]; Lord Privy Seal[23], a position[43], in United Kingdom[44], founded in 1307[45]; Member of the 1542-44 Parliament[24]; Member of the 1547-1552 Parliament[25]; and Member of the March 1553 Parliament[26].

Recognition

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley received the Order of the Garter[46].

Personal Life

Spouses include Mildred Cooke[14], a translator[47], 1526–1589[48], of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[49] and Mary Cheke[15], 1522–1543[50]. Children include Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter[16], a politician[51], 1542–1623[52], of Kingdom of England[53], awarded the Order of the Garter[54]; Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury[17], a politician[55], 1563–1612[56], of Kingdom of England[57], awarded the Order of the Garter[58]; Anne Cecil, Countess of Oxford[18], a courtier[59], 1556–1588[60]; and Elizabeth Cecil[19], 1564–1583[61]. William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's religion is recorded as Church of England[62].

Death and Burial

Recorded date of death include August 4, 1598[5] and August 5, 1598[10]. William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley passed away in Westminster[4]. Burial took place at St Martin's Church, Stamford[11].

Why It Matters

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley ranks in the top 0.65% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,947 views/month, #6,515 of 1,000,298).[9] He has Wikipedia articles in 23 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[63] He is known by 61 alternative names across languages and contexts.[64]

FAQs

Where was William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley born?

Born in Bourne[2], William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley…

Where did William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley die?

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley passed away in Westminster[4].

Who were William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's parents?

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's father was Richard Cecil[12]. William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's mother was Jane Heckington[13].

Who was William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley married to?

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's spouses include Mildred Cooke[14] and Mary Cheke[15].

What did William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley do for work?

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley worked as politician[6], baron[7], and minister[8].

Where did William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley go to school?

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was educated at St John's College[28], Stamford School[32], and The King's School, Grantham[36].

What awards did William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley receive?

Honors received include Order of the Garter[46].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  3. [12] ↑ . Q75653886. wikidata.org.
  4. [13] ↑ . The Peerage. wikidata.org.
  5. [14] ↑ . Q75653886. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  6. [15] ↑ . Q75653886. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  7. [20] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  8. [21] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  9. [22] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  10. [23] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  11. [24] ↑ . The History of Parliament. wikidata.org.
  12. [25] ↑ . The History of Parliament. wikidata.org.
  13. [26] ↑ . The History of Parliament. wikidata.org.
  14. [16] ↑ . Q75653886. wikidata.org.
  15. [17] ↑ . Q75653886. wikidata.org.
  16. [18] ↑ . Q75653886. wikidata.org.
  17. [19] ↑ . The Peerage. wikidata.org.
  18. [28] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  19. [32] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  20. [36] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  21. [6] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  22. [7] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  23. [8] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  24. [27] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  25. [11] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  26. [62] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  27. [46] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  28. [3] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  29. [5] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  30. [10] ↑ . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [47] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [48] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [49] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [50] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [40] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [41] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [42] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [43] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [44] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [45] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [51] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [52] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [53] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [54] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [55] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [56] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [57] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [58] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [59] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [60] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [61] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [29] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [30] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [31] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [33] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [34] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [35] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [37] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [38] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [39] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [9] ↑ . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [63] ↑ . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [64] ↑ . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-cecil-1st-baron-burghley
MLA “William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Oct. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-cecil-1st-baron-burghley.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_william-cecil-1st-baron-burghley_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-cecil-1st-baron-burghley}, note = {Accessed: 2026-10-10}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley — https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-cecil-1st-baron-burghley (retrieved 2026-10-10)

Canonical URL: https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-cecil-1st-baron-burghley · Last refreshed:

Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 2h ago · Pigsonthewing · 2026-10-10 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14921 → william-cecil-first-baron-burghley
    Wikipedia languages → ['ar', 'bg', 'ckb', 'commons', 'cs', 'cy', 'da', 'de', 'el', 'en', 'eo', 'es', '
    Claims rich → —
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:1||1 */ [[Property:P14921]]: william-cecil-first-baron-burghley, Matched to [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/entry/327243947|William Cecil, First Baron Burghley (#327243947)]] in [[:tool"
  2. 9w ago · Birkho · 2026-08-06 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Signature → Unterschrift William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley englischer Po
    "/* wbsetclaim-update:2||1 */ [[Property:P109]]: Unterschrift William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley englischer Politiker.svg"
  3. 11w ago · Pierrotrgr · 2026-07-22 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Biblissima authority id → Chehel Sotun
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ [[Property:P11493]]: Q16566, Import ID Biblissima V2 ([[:toollabs:editgroups/b/OR/74d891b831c|details]])"
  4. 14w ago · Printstream · 2026-07-04 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14608 → 118668064
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P14608]]: 118668064, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1783130387391"
  5. 14w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-06-28 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Edit16 catalogue author id → 29353
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:1||1 */ [[Property:P5492]]: 29353, Matched to [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/entry/107815650|William Cecil (#107815650)]] in [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/catalog/4161|EDIT16 people]] #mix"
  6. 15w ago · Printstream · 2026-06-26 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14536 → 339543
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P14536]]: 339543, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1782462304762"
  7. 20w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Occupation → politician, baron, minister
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32085|batch #32085]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (27)"
  8. 21w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-15 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Educated at → St John's College, Stamford School, The King's School, Grantham
    Languages spoken, written or signed → English
    Instance of → human
    Family name → Cecil
    + 31 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbremoveclaims-remove:1| */ [[Property:P1871]]: cnp01138101, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/257929|batch #257929]]"
Live feed via Wikidata EventStreams. New edits appear within minutes of being made on Wikidata.