Thomas Butler, 6th Earl of Ossory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Butler
Earl of Ossory
A close-up from the painting below
Successor	James, 2nd Duke of Ormonde
Born	8 July 1634 Kilkenny Castle
Died	30 July 1680 London
Spouse(s)	Emilia van Nassau
Issue Detail	James, Charles, Henrietta & others
Father	James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond
Mother	Elizabeth Preston

Thomas Butler, 6th Earl of Ossory (1634–1680) was an important Irish soldier and politician. He was the oldest son of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond. Sadly, Thomas died before his father, so he never became a duke himself. He was also known as a Vice-Admiral, meaning he was a high-ranking officer in the navy.

Early Life and Family

Thomas Butler was born on July 8, 1634, at Kilkenny Castle in Ireland. His father was James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond, who was a very powerful leader. His mother was Elizabeth Preston.

The Butler family was an old and important family in Ireland. They were known as "Old English" and had been in Ireland for a long time, since the 1100s. Both of Thomas's parents were Protestants. Thomas had three younger brothers and two sisters.

Growing Up and Moving Around

Because Thomas was the oldest son, he was expected to inherit his father's titles. At first, he was called Viscount Thurles. Later, when his father became a marquess in 1642, Thomas's title changed to Earl of Ossory.

Thomas lived with his family in Ireland until 1647. At that time, his father had to leave Dublin because of political problems. Thomas went with him to England. In 1648, his father decided to support the king again, and Thomas fled with him to France. They arrived in Caen, France, in February 1648. His mother and siblings joined them later that year. Thomas went to school in Caen and was good at sports and academics.

The family faced money problems while in exile. In 1652, Thomas's mother took him and his siblings to London. She managed to get some money from their family lands in Ireland. However, she was not allowed to give any of this money to her husband.

In 1655, Thomas was suspected of supporting the king, who was in exile. He was put in jail by Oliver Cromwell, who ruled England at the time. After about a year, Thomas was released and went to the Netherlands. This is where King Charles II had his court while he was in exile.

Marriage and Children

While he was in the Netherlands, Thomas Butler married Emilia van Nassau on November 17, 1659. Emilia was the daughter of a Dutch nobleman.

Thomas and Emilia had eleven children together. Their most notable children included:

• James (1665–1745), who became the 2nd Duke of Ormonde after his grandfather died in 1688.
• Charles (1671–1758), who became the 3rd Duke of Ormonde after his older brother.

They also had three daughters:

• Elizabeth (died 1717), who married William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby in 1673.
• Amelia (died 1760), who never married and inherited her brother Charles's lands.
• Henrietta (died 1724), who married Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque, 1st Earl of Grantham.

A Life of Service

In 1660, King Charles II returned to England, and Thomas Butler went with him. This event is known as the Restoration. That same year, Thomas was given a special job as a Lord of the Bedchamber to King Charles II, which he held until he died. His wife, Emilia, also became an English citizen.

In 1661, Thomas became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol in England. He also became an MP for Dublin University in the Irish Parliament.

In 1662, Thomas was given a special honor. He was called to the Irish House of Lords as the Earl of Ossory. This meant he became the 6th Earl of Ossory, taking over a title his father also held.

A portrait of Thomas Butler by Sir Peter Lely.

Military and Political Roles

Thomas was a brave soldier and a skilled leader.

• In 1665, he became a high-ranking general in the Irish army.
• He fought in the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665–1667) against the Dutch. He took part in the Battle of Lowestoft.
• In 1666, he was given another important title, Baron Butler of Moore Park, which allowed him to sit in the English House of Lords.
• He often helped his father, who was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, a very important position. Thomas strongly defended his father's work in Ireland.
• In 1672, he attacked the Dutch fleet, which started the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672–1674). He fought bravely in the Battle of Solebay that same year.
• He was offered a job by the King of France, Louis XIV, but he turned it down.
• In 1673, he showed great courage during the Battle of Texel.
• From 1677 to 1679, he worked with his father as a Lord of the Admiralty, helping to manage the navy.
• Thomas was also good friends with William, Prince of Orange, who later became King of England. In 1677, Thomas joined William's army in the Netherlands and showed great leadership during the siege of Mons in 1678.
• In 1680, he was chosen to be the governor of English Tangier, a city in North Africa. However, he died before he could start this new job.

Death and Legacy

Thomas Butler died on July 30, 1680, in London, after a short illness. He was first buried in Westminster Abbey. Some people believe his body was later moved to the family burial place in St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland.

His oldest son, James, became the 7th Earl of Ossory. Later, in 1688, James also became the 2nd Duke of Ormond, taking over his grandfather's main title.

Important Dates in Thomas Butler's Life

Images for kids

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  A full-length portrait of Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory.