FEILDING, WILLIAM HENRY ADELBERT (1836-95) was the son of the 7th Earl of Denbigh. Entering the army in 1852, he became lieut-colonel in 1860 and was assistant adjutant-general in Dublin (1864-69). After seeing service in the Franco-Prussian war as attache at French headquarters (1870-71), Feilding visited Australia and New Zealand on behalf of the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation to select 100,000 acres of land on which to settle colonists. He chose the Manchester block in Rangitikei, which was named after the chairman, the Duke of Manchester. The town was called Feilding after himself. The agreement was to settle 2,000 immigrants by 1877. Feilding commanded the 1st battalion Coldstream Guards (1874-77) and was promoted lieut-general in 1893. He visited Australia and New Zealand in 1894 and died at Bangkok, Siam, on 24 Mar 1895.

Burke; Cycl. N.Z., i; The Times (London), 26 Mar 1895.

Reference: Volume 1, page 138

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