David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter

The Marquess of Exeter

Lord Burghley in 1926
Personal information
Full name	David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter
Nationality	British
Born	(1905-02-09)9 February 1905 Stamford, Lincolnshire, England
Died	22 October 1981(1981-10-22) (aged 76) Stamford, Lincolnshire, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	10 st 10 lb (68 kg)
Sport
Country	United Kingdom
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Hurdles
Club	University of Cambridge
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	110 mH: 14.5 (1930) 400 mH: 52.01 (1932) 400 m: 49.7 (1929)
Medal record Olympic Games 1928 Amsterdam 400 m hurdles 1932 Los Angeles 4×400 m relay Representing  England British Empire Games 1930 Hamilton 120 yd hurdles 1930 Hamilton 440 yd hurdles 1930 Hamilton 4×440 yd relay

David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter KCMG (9 February 1905 – 22 October 1981), styled Lord Burghley before 1956 and also known as David Burghley, was an English athlete, sports official and Conservative Party politician. He won the gold medal in the 400 m hurdles at the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Born near Stamford, Lincolnshire, as heir to the 5th Marquess of Exeter, Lord Burghley was educated at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland and Eton College and Magdalene College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was a member of the University Pitt Club.

A notable runner at school and at Cambridge, he continued with his athletics and won the British AAA championships in 120 yd from 1929 to 1931 and the 440 yd (400 m) hurdles from 1926 to 1928, and again in 1930 and 1932.

Burghley made his Olympic debut in Paris in 1924, when he was eliminated in the first round of the 110 metre hurdles event. At the 1928 Summer Olympics, Burghley was eliminated in the semifinal of the 110 metre hurdles competition, but won the 400 metres hurdles, beating second and third placed Americans Frank Cuhel and Morgan Taylor by 0.2 seconds. At the first Commonwealth Games in 1930, Burghley won both hurdling events and was also a member of the gold medal winning British 4×440 yards relay team. In 1927–1930 Burghley also set several British records, one of which, 24.7 s in the 220 yard hurdles, was set in 1927 and stood until 1950.