William Orlando Butler
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| William Orlando Butler | |
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| In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843 |
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| Preceded by | William W. Southgate |
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| Succeeded by | (none) |
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| Election date November 7, 1848 |
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| Running mate | Lewis Cass |
| Opponent(s) | Millard Fillmore (Whig) Charles Francis Adams, Sr. (Free Soil) |
| Incumbent | George M. Dallas (D) |
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| Born | April 19, 1791 Jessamine County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 1880 Carrollton, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
William Orlando Butler (April 19, 1791 – August 6, 1880) was a U.S. political figure and U.S. Army major general from Kentucky. He served as a Democratic congressman from Kentucky from 1839 to 1843, and was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee under Lewis Cass in 1848.
Butler was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky and graduated from Transylvania University in 1812. He fought in a number of engagements in the Southern states during the War of 1812. He fought at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815.
From 1817-1844, he worked as a lawyer and a politician. He was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor in 1844.
On June 29, 1846, he was appointed major general of volunteers and commanded the 1st Volunteer Division in the Army of Occupation. He served as second-in-command to Zachary Taylor during the Battle of Monterrey, in which he was wounded. On February 18, 1848, he superseded General Winfield Scott as the commanding general of the American army. He left the service on August 18, 1848. He turned down the govenorship of the Nebraska Territory in 1855.
He published a collection of poems entitled, The Boatman's Horn and Other Poems, and he was present at the peace conference of 1861, a gathering of political leaders that met in Washington, D.C. in an attempt to avert the impending American Civil War.
Butler County, Iowa and Butler County, Missouri were named for General Butler.
[edit] Trivia
- Butler was the first non-incumbent Democratic vice presidential candidate to lose election.
[edit] External links
- William Orlando Butler at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- William Orlando Butler at Find A Grave
| Preceded by William W. Southgate |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 13th congressional district March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843 |
District eliminated |
| Preceded by George M. Dallas |
Democratic Party vice presidential candidate 1848 (lost) |
Succeeded by William R. King |
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