BUTLER, Pierce, senator, born in Ireland, 11 July, 1744; died in Philadelphia, 15 February, 1822. He was the third son of Sir Richard Butler, 5th baronet. He was made lieutenant in the 46th regiment of the British army, 18 August, 1761 ; became captain in the 29th in July, 1762; major in April, 1766, and was stationed in Boston, but resigned before the revolution and settled in Charleston, South Carolina He was a delegate from South Carolina to the old congress in 1787, and in 1788 a member of the convention that framed the federal constitution, taking an active part in its discussions. He supported the "Virginia Plan," saying that he had been opposed to granting new powers to a single body, but would support their distribution among different bodies. He spoke against the plan of a triple executive, and maintained that property was the only true basis of representation. After the adoption of the constitution he was senator from his state in 1789-'96 and in 1802-'4. He opposed some of the measures of Washington's administration, but approved of the war of 1812. Senator Butler was at one time a director of the United States bank. He was proud of tracing his descent from the dukes of Ormond, and his political opponents often twitted him upon his family pride.--His son, Pierce, born in 1807; died in Philadelphia, 15 August, 1867, was a lawyer of ability, and married in 1834 Miss Fanny Kemble, the actress, who had come to this country about two years before. In 1849, owing to incompatibility of temper, they were separated. See KEHBLE, FRANCES ANNE.