Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter

Thomas Cecil (May 5,1546-February 8,1623), eldest son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, was created 1st Earl of Exeter on May 4,1605, the same day his half-brother Robert Cecil,1st Viscount Cranborne was created 1st Earl of Salisbury.

Thomas Cecil served in government under Elizabeth I of England, first serving in the House of Commons in 1563 and representing various constituencies for most of the time from then until 1593. He was knighted in 1575. After his father's death in 1598 brought him a seat in the House of Lords,the 2nd Lord Burghley, as he then was, served from 1599 to 1603 as Lord-Lieutenant of Yorkshire and Lord President of the Council of the North. It was during this period that Queen Elizabeth made him a Knight of the Garter in 1601.

Unlike his brother, however, he did not become a Government minister under James I.