William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh (c. 1587 – 8 April 1643) was an English courtier and peer who served as the Custos Rotulorum of Warwickshire from 1628 to 1643. As the brother-in-law of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, the royal favourite of James VI and I, he became involved in several major events during the Stuart period. He also made an unusual non-official journey to Persia and India.
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Biography
William Feilding was the son of Basil Feilding, of Newnham Paddox, Warwickshire (High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1612), and Elizabeth Aston, daughter of Sir Walter Aston. He matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1603 and was knighted on 4 March 1607.
Ally of the Duke of Buckingham
In 1606, Feilding married Susan Villiers, daughter of Sir George Villiers. From around 1615, Susan's brother, George Villiers, became the favourite and self-described lover of King James I; George rose rapidly in status and influence and was made Duke of Buckingham in 1623. With the rise of Villiers, both Feilding and his wife received various offices and dignities. The historian S.R. Gardiner, in the 19th century, described Feilding as "the plain country gentleman who had the good luck to marry Buckingham's sister in the days of her poverty."