BUTLER, ALBAN (1710-1773), English Roman Catholic priest and hagiologist, was born in Northampton on Oct. 24, 171o. He was educated at the English college, Douai, where on his ordination to the priesthood in 1735, he held successively the chairs of philosophy and divinity. After some years spent in England he became president of the English seminary at St. Omer, where he remained till his death on May Butler's great work The Lives of the Saints, the result of 3o years' study (1756 59), has passed through many editions and translations (best edition, including valuable notes, Dublin See An Account of the Life of A. B. by C. B., i.e. by his nephew Charles Butler (1799) ; and Joseph Gillow's Bibliographical Dic tionary of English Catholics, vol. i.