Lord Rupert Ernest William Gascoyne-Cecil (9 March 1863 – 23 June 1936) was Bishop of Exeter from 1916 to 1936. He was the second son of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he was rector of Hatfield for 28 years before being appointed a bishop. Married in 1887, he had three daughters and four sons, three of whom were killed in the First World War. As bishop he was generally liked, but had a reputation for eccentricity.
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Biography
Cecil was born at Hatfield House, the second son of Lord Robert Cecil, third (but second surviving) son of the 2nd Marquess of Salisbury, and Lady Robert Cecil, née Georgina Alderson. In 1865, his father's elder brother died without an heir, his father thereby became Viscount Cranborne as heir apparent to the 2nd Marquess, and Cecil became The Hon. William Cecil. In 1868, his father succeeded as 3rd Marquess, and Cecil became Lord William Cecil. His elder brother was James, Viscount Cranborne (later 4th Marquess), and his younger brothers included another Lord Robert Cecil (later 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood) and Lord Hugh Cecil (later 1st Baron Quickswood). He was educated at Eton, where he was bullied and nicknamed "Fish", a name that stuck with him among family and friends throughout his life. Following Eton he was educated at University College, Oxford where he gained a third in law. After leaving university, Cecil worked for a few months in London's East End slums.