William Butler (1759-1821)
Encyclopedia
William Butler was a United States Representative from South Carolina
.
Born in Prince William County, Virginia
, he moved to South Carolina as a young man. He served in the Snow Campaign under Colonel Richard Richardson in 1775 and in Gen. Andrew Williamson
's expedition against the Cherokee Indians in 1776. In 1779 he was a lieutenant in Pulaski's Legion
, under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln
, and served under Gen. Andrew Pickens
at the siege of Augusta
in 1780. He served as captain under General William Henderson in 1781, and was a captain of Mounted Rangers under Pickens in 1782.
Butler was a member of the State convention which adopted the United States Constitution
, and was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from 1787 to 1795. He was sheriff
of the Ninety-Six District
in 1791, and was elected major general of the upper division of State militia in 1796.
Butler was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 7th United States Congress
and served in the five succeeding Congresses, from March 4, 1801 to March 3, 1813. He then chose not run for reelection.
Butler was a major general
commanding the troops raised for the defense of South Carolina in the War of 1812
, and then retired to his plantation on the Saluda River
, near Mount Willing, South Carolina.
He died at his plantation in 1821 at the age of 61, and was buried in the family plot at Butler Methodist Church, near Saluda
.
William Butler was the father of William Butler (1790-1850)
, Andrew Pickens Butler, and Pierce Mason Butler, and the grandfather of Matthew Calbraith Butler. All except Pierce Butler (who served as governor of South Carolina) were members of the U.S. Congress from South Carolina. Butler was a first cousin to Sophia Butler (Smith) Bonham, the mother of Texas hero James Butler Bonham and U.S. Congressman Milledge Luke Bonham
.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Born in Prince William County, Virginia
Prince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
, he moved to South Carolina as a young man. He served in the Snow Campaign under Colonel Richard Richardson in 1775 and in Gen. Andrew Williamson
Andrew Williamson
Andrew Williamson was the Deputy Deemster of the Isle of Man.Andrew Williamson was born in Douglas in December 1946 and brought up in Kirk Michael. He was educated at Michael School and then Ramsey Grammar School, before leaving the Island to study law at Nottingham Regional College of Technology...
's expedition against the Cherokee Indians in 1776. In 1779 he was a lieutenant in Pulaski's Legion
Pulaski's Legion
Pulaski's Legion was raised on March 28, 1778 at Baltimore, Maryland under the command of Kazimierz Pułaski for service with the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The Legion consisted of one troop of lancers, two troops of dragoons and 200 light infantry soldiers...
, under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
, and served under Gen. Andrew Pickens
Andrew Pickens
Andrew Pickens may refer to:*Andrew Pickens , American revolutionary soldier and US Congressman, South Carolina*Andrew Pickens , War of 1812 and Governor of South Carolina...
at the siege of Augusta
Siege of Augusta
The Siege of Augusta began on May 22, 1781 and was conducted by General Andrew Pickens and Colonel Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee against British troops occupying the town of Augusta, Georgia. Fort Cornwallis, the primary defenses, were successfully exposed to cannon fire by the construction of a...
in 1780. He served as captain under General William Henderson in 1781, and was a captain of Mounted Rangers under Pickens in 1782.
Butler was a member of the State convention which adopted the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, and was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
from 1787 to 1795. He was sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of the Ninety-Six District
Ninety-Six District, South Carolina
Ninety-Six District is a former judicial district in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It existed as a district from 29 July 1769 to 31 December 1799. The court house and jail for Ninety-Six District were in Ninety Six, South Carolina....
in 1791, and was elected major general of the upper division of State militia in 1796.
Butler was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 7th United States Congress
7th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Aaron Burr * President pro tempore:** Abraham Baldwin , first elected December 7, 1801** Stephen R. Bradley , first elected December 14, 1802-House of Representatives:...
and served in the five succeeding Congresses, from March 4, 1801 to March 3, 1813. He then chose not run for reelection.
Butler was a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
commanding the troops raised for the defense of South Carolina in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and then retired to his plantation on the Saluda River
Saluda River
The Saluda River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 200 mi long, in northern and western South Carolina in the United States...
, near Mount Willing, South Carolina.
He died at his plantation in 1821 at the age of 61, and was buried in the family plot at Butler Methodist Church, near Saluda
Saluda, South Carolina
Saluda is a town in Saluda County, South Carolina, along the Little Saluda River. The population was 3,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saluda County.Saluda is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
William Butler was the father of William Butler (1790-1850)
William Butler (1790-1850)
William Butler was a United States Representative from South Carolina. He was a son of William Butler , brother of Andrew Butler, and father of Matthew Butler, all of whom served in the United States Congress...
, Andrew Pickens Butler, and Pierce Mason Butler, and the grandfather of Matthew Calbraith Butler. All except Pierce Butler (who served as governor of South Carolina) were members of the U.S. Congress from South Carolina. Butler was a first cousin to Sophia Butler (Smith) Bonham, the mother of Texas hero James Butler Bonham and U.S. Congressman Milledge Luke Bonham
Milledge Luke Bonham
Milledge Luke Bonham was an American politician and Congressman who served as the 70th Governor of South Carolina from 1862 until 1864. He was a Confederate General during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
.