Robert Fielding

Robert Fielding (or Feilding; also nicknamed Beau Fielding; 1650/51 – 12 May 1712) was an English bigamist and rake in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was known as a handsome womanizer at the royal court of King Charles II, where he was given the nicknames "Beau" and "Handsome" Fielding, and later became the bigamous husband of the King's former mistress, Barbara Villiers, the first Duchess of Cleveland.

Early life Fielding was born in Solihull, Warwickshire, to George Fielding, a kinsman of the Earl of Denbigh. There is no record of his mother. Instead, as Swift recorded: "e was run into his breast, which he opened, and shewed to the ladies, that he might move their love and pity; but they all fell a-laughing".

Scandal

Following the death of his wife Margaret on 14 August 1698, Fielding courted Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland, former mistress of Charles II. At the same time, he pursued Anne Deleau, an heiress with a fortune of £60,000, which Fielding discovered by studying her late husband's will. Love letters sent to her house in Waddon, Surrey were hidden by the servants, who suspected Fielding's motives for proposing, due to his bad reputation. However, his pursuit continued, and he bribed Deleau's hairdresser, Charlotte Villars, with £500 to arrange the marriage. Mrs. Villars, however, knowing that Deleau would most likely refuse, disguised one of her own friends, a poor woman named Mary Wadsworth, as the widow. Believing her to be Deleau, Fielding married Wadsworth on 9 November 1705. Fielding's pursuit of the Duchess of Cleveland also continued, and he entered into a bigamous union with her on 25 November 1705.

Popular with women, 19th century writer Anna Jameson claimed that Fielding was full of self-love and extravagance, lavishing money on those in his circle. His portrait was painted by three of the great contemporary artists of the time: Peter Lely, Godfrey Kneller and Willem Wissing. After the annulment of his marriage, he became reconciled with Mary Wadsworth, and the couple lived together until his death, from fever, on 12 May 1712.