John Feilder was an English politician who sat as a royal independent during the Rump Parliament, where he has been described as "one of the most conservative influences". After attending Oxford University he joined the army, becoming a colonel and captain of foot, and captain of a troop of horse during the English Civil War, when he was initially commander of Farnham Castle and thereafter commanded the forces of Surrey. In 1649 he briefly served as Governor of Portsmouth . The family lived at Horkesley Hall, in Essex, and Heyshott Manor, in West Sussex.