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- BIOGRAPHY
George Feilding's mother, Susan, was the sister of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, King James I's favourite. Because of his uncle, when George Feilding was only eight years of age he was created Baron Feilding of Lecagh and Viscount Callan on 22 November 1622. He was then not only promised the daughter and heir of the Earl of Desmond for wife, but also the latter's title. He never married this girl, but when the Earl of Desmond died in 1628, George Feilding became Earl of Desmond.
On 17 April 1630 he married Bridget Stanhope, the youngest of three daughters and heirs of Sir Michael Stanhope, and they became the parents of five sons and three daughters.
In 1631 the following story was told of how the Earl of Desmond accused a Mr. Croftes of his 'hose being too short'. Mr. Croftes replied: 'So is your nose', after which the Earl spurned him. Mr. Croftes then knocked him in the Queen's presence and made him go 'crying' to his father, the Earl of Denbigh. Lord Denbigh then sent his glove in token of a challenge, and so to Hyde Park they went.
In 1635 his wife sued for divorce but they were reconciled. The Earl of Desmond died in 1666 in his forty-ninth year.
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