Charles Butler (1671 - 1758)

Ancestors

Died 17 Dec 1758 at age 87 in London, England

Biography

Lt.-Gen. Charles Butler, 1st Earl of Arran was born on 29 August 1671.1 He was the son of Thomas Butler, 6th Earl of Ossory and Lady Amelia de Nassau. His father's family, the Butler dynasty, was Old English and descended from Theobald Walter, who had been appointed Chief Butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177. Charles's mother was Dutch. Her family was a cadet branch of the House of Nassau. Both parents were Protestant.

He was created 1st Baron Butler of Cloughgrenan [Ireland] on 8 March 1693. He was created 1st Viscount of Tullogh [Ireland] on 8 March 1693. He was created 1st Earl of Arran [Ireland] on 8 March 1693. He was created 1st Baron Butler of Weston, co. Huntingdon [England] on 23 January 1693/94. He was Colonel of the 6th Horse (subsequently 5th Dragoon Guards) between 1697 and 1703. He held the office of Lord of the Bedchamber to King William III between 1699 and 1702. He gained the rank of Brigadier-General on 24 January 1702. He was Colonel of the 3rd Troop of Horse Guards between 1703 and 1715. He gained the rank of Major-General on 1 January 1704.

He married Elizabeth Crew, daughter of Thomas Crew, 2nd Baron Crew of Stene and Anne Armyne, on 3 June 1705 at Oatlands, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

He gained the rank of Lieutenant-General on 22 April 1708. He held the office of Master of the Ordnance [Ireland] between 1712 and 1714. He held the office of Chancellor of Oxford University on 10 September 1715. He graduated on 14 September 1715 with a Doctor of Civil Laws (D.C.L.) He held the office of High Steward of Westminster on 28 February 1715/16.

In 1721 he was entitled, by Act of Parliament, to repurchase the family estates, forfeited by his brother, 2nd Duke of Ormonde. He was created Duke of Arran [England] on 2 January 1721/22, by the titular King James III. He succeeded as the 8th Earl of Ossory [I., 1528] on 16 November 1745. He succeeded as the 6th Viscount Thurles [I., 1536] on 16 November 1745. He succeeded as the 3rd Marquess of Ormonde [I., 1642] on 16 November 1745, de jure. He succeeded as the 3rd Duke of Ormonde [I., 1661] on 16 November 1745, de jure. He succeeded as the 14th Earl of Ormonde [I., 1328] on 16 November 1745.

Horace Walpole described him as "an inoffensive old man, the last male of the illustrious house of Ormond; much respected by the Jacobites, who had scarce any partizans left in whom they might venerate even a noble name." T. Hearne stated that "the Earl of Arran is a person of middle size, (much about the same height with his brother the Duke) and is a sanguine complexion, and seems to be as modest as he is goodnatured."

He does not have appeared to have known by either of his Dukedoms, the Jacobite Duke of Arran, or the Duke of Ormonde (on the basis that his brother's Irish titles was also thought to have been forfeited in 1715, along with the English titles). On his death, his English and Irish titles all became extinct, except the Earldom of Ossory and Ormonde.

He died on 17 December 1758 at age 87 at lodgings next to the Tilt yard, Whitehall, London, England, without issue.

He was buried on 23 December 1758 at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, London, EnglandG.1 His will (dated 19 January 1757) was proven (by probate) on 17 January 1759, with two codicils.

Sources

• https://www.dib.ie/biography/butler-charles-a1230

http://www.thepeerage.com/p2723.htm#i27226

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Butler,_1st_Earl_of_Arran