William Butler was an American Revolutionary soldier and congressman. He was a United States Congressman, and a General during the American Revolution.
Background
William Butler was born on December 17, 1759 and was the son of James Butler of Prince William County, Virginia, who with his wife Mary Simpson and eight children moved to Ninety Six District, South Carolina, about 1772.
James Butler served in several campaigns of the first half of the Revolution, but in 1781 he and his second son, James, were killed at Cloud's Creek by "Bloody Bill" Cuningham, the notorious Loyalist leader. William Butler, the eldest son, was in the battle of Stono, and several other actions of 1779 and 1780.
Career
William Butler was lieutenant of militia before he was of age. In November 1781 he was appointed captain in the militia under General Pickens, but was usually on detached service. His most noted exploit was the surprise and dispersing of Cuningham's force, in May 1782. He appears to have been elected to the state House of Representatives in 1786.
In 1788 he opposed the calling of the convention to ratify the Federal Constitution, and in that convention voted against ratification. In the legislature he consistently opposed leniency to the Loyalists, and in this as in other important matters accurately reflected the dominant sentiment of the back country.
In 1791 he was elected sheriff of Ninety Six District, and held the office for many years. In 1794 he was made brigadier-general of militia, and later became major-general. In 1796 he was candidate for Congress against R. G. Harper, the Federalist lawyer, but was defeated by a vote of more than two to one. In 1800 Harper did not run, and Butler gained the seat which he held until 1813.
In 1810 he was chairman of the committee which investigated the charges against General Wilkinson.
His home was in Edgefield County. He died at his plantation in 1821 at the age of 61, and is buried in the Butler Family Cemetery at Butler Methodist Church, near Saluda.
Achievements
Politics
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.
Views
In Congress he seems never to have debated but to have attended faithfully. He voted against the anti-slavery motions, but supported proposals for the removal of judges on address of both houses of Congress, and for removal of senators on address of legislatures. He steadily supported the embargo.
Personality
William Butler is described as a tall, handsome man, and a lover of fine horses.
Connections
On June 3, 1784, he married Behethland Foote Moore and they had eight children: James, George, William, Frank M. , Andrew P. , Pierce M. , Emmala, and Leontine, several of whom were distinguished in the later history of the state.