Piers Butler, 3rd Viscount Galmoye facts for kids

Piers Butler, also known as Viscount Galmoy, was an important Irish nobleman who lived a long time ago (from 1652 to 1740). He came from a famous family, the Butlers, and was related to the 10th Earl of Ormond. His father was Edward Butler, the 2nd Viscount Galmoy, and his mother was Eleanor White.

Family Life and Marriages

Piers Butler married twice in his life. His first wife was Anne Mathew. They had one son together, named Edward Butler. Sadly, Edward became a Colonel and was killed in a big battle called the Battle of Malplaquet in 1709.

After Anne Mathew passed away, Piers Butler married Henrietta FitzJames on April 3, 1695. Henrietta was the daughter of King James II. She had been married before to Henry Waldegrave, 1st Baron Waldegrave.

Life as a Nobleman and Soldier

Piers Butler was a very educated man. In 1677, he earned a special degree called LL.D. from Oxford University. This showed he was good at law.

Serving King James II

When James II of England was king, Piers Butler held many important jobs in Ireland.

• He was a Privy Councillor of Ireland. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the king.
• He was the Lieutenant of County Kilkenny. This was like being in charge of the county.
• He was a Colonel in the 2nd Regiment of Irish Horse. This was a military role.

Piers Butler was a strong supporter of King James II. He fought as part of the Jacobite Irish Army. He led his regiment bravely in two major battles:

• The Battle of the Boyne
• The Battle of Aughrim

After these battles, he was one of the people who signed the Treaty of Limerick. This treaty ended the war in Ireland.

Exile and Later Military Career

During a big change in England called the Glorious Revolution, Piers Butler had a choice. He could have kept his large estates in Kilkenny (about 10,000 acres) and Wexford (5,000 acres) if he had supported the new king, William III of England. But he chose to stay loyal to King James II and went into exile in France with other supporters like Patrick Sarsfield.

Because he didn't support the new king, the English Parliament took away his titles and lands in 1697.

Service in France and Spain

Even in exile, Piers Butler continued his military career.

• In 1692, King James II, still claiming to be king, gave him a new title: Earl of Newcastle in County Limerick. This was part of the Jacobite peerage.
• In France, he became a Colonel again, leading the 2nd Queen's Regiment of Irish Horse.
• He fought with great skill in many battles during the War of the Spanish Succession.
• He also became a Lieutenant-General in the Spanish army.

Piers Butler was involved in several important military actions:

• He was at the siege of Roses in 1693.
• In 1694, he was a Brigadier attached to the army in Germany.
• From 1701 to 1703, he served in Italy and other parts of Europe, fighting alongside the famous Irish Brigade.

He later became a Lieutenant-General in the French army and a Brigadier of Cavalry in 1694. Lord Galmoy, as he spelled his name, lived a long life. He passed away in Paris on June 18, 1740, and was buried there at St Paul's.

Even though his titles were officially taken away, his nephew, James Butler, continued to use the title of Viscount Galmoy. James was also an officer in the Irish Brigade in France.

See also

• Butler dynasty