Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/92

 BUTl.ER.

BUTLER.

BUTLER, Richard, soldier, was born in Ire- land, the eldest of the four Butler brothers, all celebrated soldiers in the American revolution. William was also born in Ireland, and Thomas and Percival in Pennsylvania. He came to America with liis parents at some time prior to 1754, and in 1776 entered the patriot army as lieutenant-colonel in a Peuns^'lvania regiment. He served with distinction through the entire war, and at its close had attained the rank of colonel. From 1787 to 1791 he was agent for In- dian affairs in Ohio, and in the latter year was made a brigadier-general and commanded the right wing in the St. Clair expedition against the Indians. He was tomahawked and scalped in the disastrous engagement of Nov. 4, 1791.

BUTLER, Thomas Belden, jurist, was born in Wetiiersfield, Conn.. Aug. 22, 1806. He was graduated at Yale medical school in 1828; prac- tised medicine until 1837. when he was admitted to the bar and engaged in practice at Norwalk. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1833-'45; a state senator. 1848-53, and was elected to the 31st Congress. He became judge of the superior court of Connecticut in 1855; of the supreme court in 1861, and chief justice in 1870. He is the author of a speech on the slave question (1850): and of "The Philosophy of the "Weather" (1856). He died in Norwalk, Conn., June 8. 1873.

BUTLER, Thomas S., representative, was born in Uwchland, Pa., Nov, 4, 1855. He was educated at the Normal school. West Chester, Pa., studied law, and on being admitted to the bar engaged in practice at West Chester, Pa. He was elected a representative in the 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th and 58tli congresses, 1897-1905.

BUTLER, Wentworth S., librarian, was born in Deerfield. N.H.. in 1826; son of Josiah Butler. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1848. From

1850 to 1853 he pur- sued a course in the- ology with a view to holy orders. In 1855 Mr. Butler became temporary assistant to the librarian of the New York society librar}', and remained until the spring of 1856. when he super- intended the removal of the library to the new building in Uni- versity place, and on the resignation of Mr. MacMullen, the librarian. Mr. Butler was elected to the vacant office. The collection of books known as the

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" Publick Library," from its foundation in 1700 by the Earl of Bellomont, was mei'ged in the New York society library, which was organized in 1754. and a royal charter was soon after granted to the consolidated institution by King George III. Tlie membership of the librarj' corporation, from its foundation, embraced members of the oldest families of New York, and many of the shares- have descended in the same families from 1754 and 1790. Among its trustees before the Revolu- tion were the Rt. Hon. James DeLancey, gov- ernor of the province, its first chairman in 1754; the Rev. Dr. Auchmuty, rector of Trinity church: Chancellor Livingston; and after the revolution, the Baron von Steuben, Edward Liv- ingston, Gulian C. Verplanck, Bishop Wainright, Washington Irving, Frederick de Pe^-ster, and other distinguished men. Mr. Butler was per- sonally instrumental in securing an endowment for the library of $70,000. and in 1880 had been successful in obtaining $71,000 in gifts and be- quests. After forty years' service he retired from the active duties of librarian, and was made librarian emeritus by the shareholders at their annual meeting in 1896.

BUTLER, William, soldier, was born in Prince William countj% Va., in 1759; son of James But- ler, and moved with his father from Virginia into South Carolina about the year 1772. He was graduated in medicine at South Carolina college, and in 1779 entered the patriot army as lieutenant in General Lincoln's southern Continental forces, in which his father was also an officer. He was afterwards attached to the command of General Pickens and later to that of General Lee. He commanded a detachment of mounted rangers and was engaged in the successful battle at Dean's Swamp. He was promoted brigadier- general, and in 1796 was made a major-general of militia. He was a delegate to the Federal con- stitutional convention of 1787, and voted against its adoption. He was also a member of the state convention which adopted the South Carolina constitution. He served in the legislature, oc- cupied the office of sheriff and that of magistrate, and was elected a representative to the 7th. 8th, 9th. 10th, 11th and 12th congresses, serving from 1801 to 1813. In command of the South Carolina troops he was engaged in the defence of the state during the war of 1812. He died in Columbia, S.C. Nov. 15, 1821.

BUTLER, William Allen, lawyer, was born in Albany, N.Y.. Feb. 20, 1825; son of Benjamin Franklin and Harriet (Allen) Butler. He was graduated at the University of the city of New York, 1843. read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. He travelled abroad. 1846-*48, engaged in practice in New York city, was a lecturer on admiialty and