William Butler (1790–1850)

William Butler
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th district
In office March 4, 1841 – March 4, 1843
Preceded by	Waddy Thompson, Jr.
Succeeded by	Isaac E. Holmes
Personal details
Born	February 1, 1790 Edgefield District, South Carolina
Died	September 25, 1850 (aged 60) Fort Gibson, Indian Territory
Resting place	Van Buren, Arkansas
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Jane Tweedy Perry
Alma mater	South Carolina College
Profession	Doctor, Indian agent
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1814–1820
Rank	Surgeon
Battles/wars	War of 1812

William Butler (February 1, 1790 – September 25, 1850) was a United States Representative from South Carolina. He was a son of William Butler (1759–1821), brother of Andrew Butler, and father of Matthew Calbraith Butler, all of whom served in the United States Congress. His brother Pierce Mason Butler was Governor of South Carolina from 1836 to 1838.

Butler was born near the present town of Saluda, South Carolina. He graduated from South Carolina College at Columbia, South Carolina in 1810. He had studied medicine and was licensed to practice. During the War of 1812, he served as a United States Navy surgeon at the Battle of New Orleans. While stationed in Rhode Island in 1819, he married Jane Tweedy Perry. She was a daughter of Christopher Raymond Perry, and was a sister to Oliver Hazard Perry and Matthew Calbraith Perry. Butler served in the Navy until June 6, 1820, when he resigned.

In 1825 he moved to Greenville, South Carolina where he began practice as a country doctor. He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841 – March 4, 1843). He served as agent of the Cherokee Indians from May 29, 1849, until his death the following year in Fort Gibson, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). He was buried near Van Buren, Arkansas.

References

• William Butler at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Martin, Samuel J., Southern Hero, Matthew Calbraith Butler, Stackpole Books, 2001 ISBN 0-8117-0899-3
• Collected Receipts of William Butler of Greenville - Greenville County Library System Digital Collections