Elizabeth Butler, Duchess of Ormond facts for kids

Elizabeth Butler, Duchess of Ormond (born Elizabeth Preston; 1615–1684) was a very important woman in Irish history. She helped bring together the large Ormond family lands. She did this by marrying her second cousin, James Butler, who later became the Duke of Ormond.

Elizabeth inherited a large part of the Ormond family's lands from her mother. Her mother was the only surviving child of a powerful ancestor known as "Black Tom," the 10th Earl of Ormond. Elizabeth's husband, James, inherited his share of the lands from his grandfather. Elizabeth's inherited lands were the biggest part and included the famous Kilkenny Castle.

Early Life and Family Connections

Elizabeth Preston was born on 25 July 1615. She was the only child of Richard Preston and Elizabeth Butler. Her father was from a Scottish family and became a favorite of King James VI of Scotland. The King made him a noble, giving him the title Lord Dingwall in 1609.

Elizabeth's mother was the only child of Thomas Butler, known as "Black Tom." Her mother had been married before, but her first husband died without children. Elizabeth's mother's family, the Butlers, were an "Old English" family in Ireland. They were descendants of Theobald Walter, who was given an important role by King Henry II in 1177.

Both of Elizabeth's parents were Protestant. They got married in 1614, shortly before her grandfather "Black Tom" passed away.

The Ormond Family Lands

Elizabeth's parents' lives were greatly affected by the future of her grandfather "Black Tom's" lands and titles. "Black Tom" had planned for most of his lands to go to his male heir, his nephew Walter. Walter became the Earl of Ormond in 1614, following the usual rules for titles.

However, "Black Tom" was a Protestant, but his nephew Walter was a strong Catholic. King James I wanted the Ormond lands to stay in Protestant hands. So, he decided that most of the estate should go to "Black Tom's" only child, Elizabeth. The King also arranged for Elizabeth's mother to marry his favorite, Richard Preston, who was a Scottish Protestant. This is why Elizabeth's parents married in 1614.

Becoming an Heiress

Elizabeth was an only child. Her mother was about 30 when Elizabeth was born, and her father was about 35. Because she was the only child, it was clear early on that she would inherit a lot of wealth. People began making plans for her marriage when she was very young.

When Elizabeth Preston was just 13, in 1628, she became a very rich heiress. Both of her parents died within a short time. First, her mother died in Wales on October 10. Then, on October 28, her father drowned while traveling between Dublin and Holyhead.

Her father's title as Earl of Desmond ended because he had no sons. But Elizabeth inherited his Scottish title of Lord Dingwall. This made her Baroness Dingwall in her own right. As the only child, Elizabeth inherited all of her parents' share of the Ormond estate. This included Kilkenny Castle and the important area of Tipperary. Since she was still a child, the King became her guardian.

Marriage and Children

At Christmas in 1629, when she was 14, Elizabeth married her second cousin once removed, James Butler. Their shared ancestor was James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond. This marriage made her Viscountess Thurles, as James was known by that title at the time. In 1630, the couple moved to Carrick-on-Suir.

Elizabeth and James had at least ten children. Only five of them lived to be adults:

• Thomas (1634–1680): He died before his father, but his son later became the 2nd Duke.
• Richard (1639–1686): He became the first Earl of Arran and also died before his father.
• Elizabeth (1640–1665): She married Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield.
• John (1643–1677): He became the Earl of Gowran.
• Mary (1646–1710): She married William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire.

Because of their marriage, the Ormond family lands were brought back together, just as Elizabeth's grandfather, the 10th Earl, had owned them. Elizabeth and James moved into Kilkenny Castle. Her husband's grandfather, the 11th Earl, lived at Ormonde Castle in Carrick-on-Suir until he died in 1633. Elizabeth became Countess of Ormond when her husband became the Earl. In 1634, their oldest son, Thomas, was born at Kilkenny Castle.

Life During the Irish Wars

When the Irish Rebellion of 1641 began, Elizabeth's husband took charge of the King's army in Dublin. Elizabeth was living at Carrick-on-Suir and was soon surrounded by the rebels. She later moved to Kilkenny Castle and stayed there even when Kilkenny became the main city for the Catholic Confederation. She bravely gave shelter to Protestant refugees inside the castle.

Elizabeth became Marchioness of Ormond when her husband was given that higher title on 30 August 1642. That same year, she was allowed to join her husband in Dublin. Their last two children, John and Mary, were born while they were in Dublin. In the city, she continued to help refugees. When Dublin seemed to be in danger of attack by the Confederates, she also helped to make the city's defenses stronger.

In 1647, she went with her husband to England after he handed Dublin over to the Parliament's forces. In 1648, her husband again supported the King. Lady Ormond then moved to Caen, France, arriving on 23 June 1648 with all five of her children. From September 1648 to December 1650, her husband was back in Ireland, trying to unite the Irish against the Parliamentarians. The family struggled with money during this time. In 1652, Lady Ormond and her children returned to England to ask Oliver Cromwell for money from the lands she owned. She managed to get a yearly payment of £2000, but only if she promised not to communicate with her husband.

In 1655, she returned to Ireland with her younger children. She lived at her home in Dunmore, County Kilkenny.

Later Life and Death

After King Charles II was restored to the throne, Lady Ormond sent her husband important political news from Ireland. The couple were later reunited in England. In March 1661, she became Duchess of Ormond when her husband was made a Duke. In 1662, she became Vicereine of Ireland because her husband was appointed the King's representative there. He served in this role until 1669, and again from 1677 to 1685.

Lady Ormond hosted many events and spent a lot of money improving the family estates. However, her letters show that she was worried about the debts of her husband and sons. Her oldest son, Thomas, sadly died suddenly in 1680. Elizabeth's health began to get worse in 1681. She died in London on 21 July 1684 and was buried at Westminster Abbey on 24 July.

Images for kids

• Family tree.png

  Family tree showing Elizabeth Preston with her husband, parents, and other relatives.