Marquess of Salisbury KG KCVO PC DL

Robert Gascoyne Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury (b. 1946), was educated at Eton and Oxford, succeeding his father in 2003. Formerly a banker in California and London, he served as Conservative MP for South Dorset (1979–87) with interests in foreign and constitutional affairs. Summoned to the Lords in 1992, he became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords, and later Opposition Leader (1997–98). He chairs The London Defence Conference, served as Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire (2005–25), and is Patron of The Sixteen. He is a Knight of the Garter.