James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Salisbury, (born James Brownlow William Cecil, 17 April 1791 – 12 April 1868), styled Viscount Cranborne from birth until 1823, was a British Conservative politician. He held office under the Earl of Derby as Lord Privy Seal in 1852 and Lord President of the Council between 1858 and 1859. He was the father of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who three times became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and grandfather of Arthur Balfour, who also served as Prime Minister.
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Background
Salisbury was the son of James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury, and Lady Emily Hill, daughter of Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire.
Political career
Salisbury entered the House of Commons in 1813 as Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, a seat he held until 1817, and then sat for Hertford between 1817 and 1823.
In the latter year, he succeeded his father in the marquessate and entered the House of Lords. He served in the Earl of Derby's first two cabinets: as Lord Privy Seal in 1852 and as Lord President of the Council between 1858 and 1859. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1826 and made a Knight of the Garter in 1842.