Sir Richard Butler, 7th Baronet facts for kids

Sir Richard Butler, 7th Baronet (born 14 July 1761 – died 16 January 1817) was an important politician in Ireland and later in the United Kingdom. He held the title of Baronet, which is a special hereditary title given by the British Crown.

Early Life and Family

Richard Butler was the oldest son of Sir Thomas Butler, 6th Baronet. His mother was Dorothea Bayly. In 1772, when he was just 11 years old, Richard became the 7th Baronet after his father passed away.

In 1784, he was chosen to be the High Sheriff of Carlow. A High Sheriff was a very important official in a county. They were responsible for keeping law and order and helping with elections.

A Career in Politics

Sir Richard Butler was a member of parliament for many years. He represented County Carlow.

Serving in the Irish Parliament

From 1783 to 1790, and again from 1796 to 1801, Sir Richard was a member of the Irish House of Commons. This was the main law-making body for Ireland at that time.

The Act of Union

In 1801, a big change happened called the Act of Union. This law joined the Kingdom of Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain. After this, Ireland became part of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

In the UK Parliament

After the Act of Union, Sir Richard continued to represent County Carlow. He served in the new Parliament of the United Kingdom until the election in 1802.

Family Life

On 23 August 1782, Sir Richard Butler married Sarah Maria Newenham. They had at least one daughter and three sons.

Interestingly, one of his grandsons, William C. Butler, became a famous football player. William played for England in special international matches in 1870 and 1871.

Sir Richard Butler passed away in 1817 when he was 55 years old. His oldest son, Thomas, then became the next Baronet.