William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter

Exeter was the eldest son of Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter, and his wife Isabella, daughter of William Stephen Poyntz, MP. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was president of the University Pitt Club. ==Cricket career==

Exeter played for the Marylebone Cricket Club and Cambridge University between 1847 and 1851. ==Militia career==

As Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire his father appointed him Lieutenant-Colonel of the disembodied Northampton Militia on 7 January 1846. When the regiment was revived in 1852 he became Lt-Col Commandant and continued in command when it became the Northampton and Rutland Militia in 1860 and later the 3rd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment in 1881. He finally retired on 23 October 1887, being succeeded in the command by his eldest son. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the battalion and wrote its regimental history. ==Political career==

Exeter was elected to the House of Commons for South Lincolnshire in 1847, a seat he held until 1857, and then represented North Northamptonshire from 1857 to 1867. He served under the Earl of Derby as Treasurer of the Household from 1866 to 1867, when he succeeded his father in the marquessate and entered the House of Lords. ==Personal life==

Lord Exeter married Lady Georgina Sophia Pakenham, daughter of Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford, on 17 October 1848. They had at least nine children: • Brownlow Henry George Cecil, 4th Marquess of Exeter (1849–1898), who married Isabella Whichcote, daughter of Sir Thomas Whichcote, 7th Baronet. • Lord Francis Horace Pierrepont Cecil (1851–1889), who married Edith Brookes, daughter of Sir William Cunliffe Brooks, 1st Baronet. • Lord William Cecil (1854–1943), who married Mary Cecil, 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney. After her death in 1919, he married Violet Freer in 1924. • Lady Catherine Sarah Cecil (1861–1918), married Henry Vane, 9th Baron Barnard. • Lord John Pakenham Joicey-Cecil (1867–1942), Lt-Col of the Lincolnshire Militia and MP for Stamford. • Lady Isabella Georgiana Katherine Cecil (d. 1903), who married William Battie-Wrightson. • Lady Mary Louisa Wellesley Cecil (d. 1930), who married James Hozier, 2nd Baron Newlands. • Lady Louisa Alexandrina Cecil (d. 1950), who died unmarried. • Lady Frances Emily Cecil (d. 1951), who died unmarried. Lord Exeter died in July 1895, aged 70, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son Brownlow, who also became a government minister. The Marchioness of Exeter died in March 1909. He held 28,000 acres across England ==Arms==