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Cecil (ROBERT ses'il Earl)

ROBERT (ses'il), Earl of Salisbury, an English statesman, second son of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, born about 1563. He was of a weak constitution, on which account he was educated at home till his removal to the University of Cambridge. Having received the honor of knighthood he went to France as assistant to the English ambassador. On the death of Sir Francis Walsingham he succeeded him as principal secretary, and continued to be a confidential minister of Queen Elizabeth to the end of her reign. Having secretly supported the interests of James I. previous to his accession to the crown, he was continued in office under the new sovereign and raised to the peerage. In 1603 he was created a baron, in 1604 Viscount Cranbourn, and in 1605 Earl of Salisbury. In 1608 Lord Salisbury was made Lord High-Treasurer, an office which he held till his death, in 1612.