Emily Cecil, Marchioness of Salisbury


Mary Amelia 'Emily Mary' Cecil, Marchioness of Salisbury, was an English aristocrat, Tory political hostess and sportswoman.
The marchioness's eccentricity was frequently remarked upon, in particular her style of dress; her clothes were often of her own design.

Family

Emily Cecil was born in Dublin as Mary Amelia Hill, the daughter of Wills Hill, 2nd Viscount Hillsborough, and his first wife, Margaretta Fitzgerald, sister of James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster. Her father was the Secretary of State for the Colonies under Lord North from 1768 to 1772, a critical period leading toward the American War of Independence.

Marriage and political hostess

Emily married James Cecil, Viscount Cranborne, the heir of James Cecil, 6th Earl of Salisbury, on 2 December 1773. After marriage, she became a prominent political hostess of the Tory party.

Children

The couple had four children:
Following her husband's death, Lady Salisbury continued to live with her son and grandchildren at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, where she died in a fire on 27 November 1835 at the age of eighty-five. It was thought that feathers in her hat caught alight when she was at her writing-desk and caused the conflagration. The fire destroyed the west wing of the house and only a few bones of hers were found.