Margaret Feilding, Duchess of Hamilton

Margaret (Mary) Feilding (1613–1638) was a Scottish noblewoman, wife of Duke James Hamilton, and courtier of Queen Consort Henrietta Maria.

Biography Margaret was born around 1613 to William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh, and Susan Villiers, sister of the Duke of Buckingham George Villiers. In 1620, she married 14-year-old James Hamilton, the future Duke of Hamilton. Following the marriage, she was briefly styled as the Countess of Arran, which was changed to Marchioness of Hamilton in 1625. Margaret was a courtier of Queen Consort Henrietta Maria, holding the office of Lady of the Bedchamber which granted her close contact with both the queen and king. She had three sons, all of whom who died young, and three daughters. One died young, but Anne and Susanna, Countess of Cassillis, survived their mother.

Margaret died at the Wallingford House in London on 10 May 1638. She was buried at Westminster Abbey on 12 May.

Legacy The contemporary Scottish historian Gilbert Burnet described Margaret as "a lady of great and singular worth" in his book Lives of the Hamiltons. Edmund Waller wrote the poem Thyrsis, Galatea in praise of Margaret.