Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury Historical Figure Nationality: United Kingdom Date of Birth: 1893 Date of Death: 1972 Cause of Death: Natural Causes Occupation: Politician Spouse: Elizabeth Cavendish Children: Three sons (two precedeased him) Affiliations: Conservative Party Turtledove Appearances: The War That Came Early POD: July 20, 1936; Relevant POD: September 29, 1938 Appearance(s): The Big Switch through Coup d'Etat Type of Appearance: Direct

Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury, KG, PC (1893–1972), known as Viscount Cranborne from 1903 to 1947, was a British Conservative politician. Initially elected to the House of Commons in 1929, Salisbury was summoned ot the House of Lords in 1941, becoming the leader of the Conservative Party in that house until 1957. He also served in several different offices during the 1940s and 1950s. He played an important role in the selection of Harold Macmillan to the office of prime minister in 1957.

In later years, the imperialist Salisbury was quite vocal in his support for white-ruled governments in Africa.

More trivally, he went by the nickname "Bobbety", and had a noticable speech impediment which caused him to pronounce the letter "r" like the letter "w".

Robert Gascoyne-Cecil in The War That Came EarlyEdit

Viscount Cranborne was part of the group of disgruntled MPs gathered together by Ronald Cartland after Britain allied with Germany in mid-1940.^[1]

Cranborne was something of a voice of reason among the group. In 1941, after Alistair Walsh reported his meeting with General Archibald Wavell did not go as well as hoped, Cranborne pointed out that if Wavell had listened to Walsh at all, the general might face the possibility of being hit and killed by a car just as Winston Churchill had been.^[2]

1. ↑ The Big Switch, pg. 342, HC.
2. ↑ Coup d'Etat, pg. 94, HC.

Political offices (OTL)
Preceded by Robert Yerburgh, 1st Baron Alvingham	Member of Parliament for South Dorset 1929–1941	Succeeded by Viscount Hinchingbrooke
Party political offices (OTL)
Preceded by Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne	Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords 1942–1957	Succeeded by Alec Douglas-Home

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