Earl of Exeter

Marquessate of Exeter
Arms of Cecil: Barry of ten argent and azure, six escutcheons, three, two, and one, sable, each charged with a lion rampant argent
Creation date	1525 (first creation) 1801 (second creation)
Monarch	Henry VIII (first creation) George III (second creation)
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, 2nd Earl of Devon
Present holder	William Michael Cecil, 8th Marquess of Exeter
Heir apparent	Anthony Cecil, Baron Burghley
Subsidiary titles	Earl of Exeter Baron Burghley
Seat(s)	Burghley House
Armorial motto	Cor unum, via una (One heart, one way)

Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon. For more information on this creation, which was forfeited in 1538, see the Earl of Devon.

The title is chiefly associated with the Cecil family, descended from the courtier Richard Cecil of the parish of Stamford Baron St Martin in Northamptonshire. His only son, Sir William Cecil, was a prominent statesman and served as Secretary of State, Lord High Treasurer and Lord Privy Seal. In 1571 he was created Baron Burghley, in the County of Northampton, in the Peerage of England. His son from his second marriage to Mildred Cooke, Sir Robert Cecil, was created Earl of Salisbury in 1605 and is the ancestor of the Marquesses of Salisbury. Lord Burghley was succeeded by his son from his first marriage to Mary Cheke, Thomas, the second Baron. He represented Stamford, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire in the House of Commons, served as Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire and as President of the Council of the North and was also a distinguished soldier. In 1605 Thomas Cecil was created Earl of Exeter in the Peerage of England (on the same day his half-brother was created Earl of Salisbury).