ORMONDE, or'mond, JAMES BVTLER, twelfth Ear] and first Duke of (1610-1688). A British soldier and statesman, the first of the ancient Afigho-lrklf fancily of Butler on whom the ducal title was conferred. lie was horn in London. On his father's death he became Viscount Thurles, and heir to the title. His grandfather, Walter. Earl of Ormonde, having displeased James 1. and having been imprisoned, the young heir was seized as a royal ward. and placed under the guardianship of the Archbishop of Canter bury. In his twentieth year he married his cousin, Lady Elizabeth Preston, and in 1632 succeeded to the earldom and estates of Ormonde. On Strafford's recommendation Ormonde was ap pointed to the chief command of the army in Ireland in 1040, just before the outbreak of the great rebellion there. He repeatedly defeated the insurgents. When, in 1643. he concluded au armistice. his policy tea, loudly condemned as well by the friends as by the of the Royalist Party in England. During the long contest of Charles with the Parliament. Ormonde continued to uphold the royal interest in his Irish government. \Viten the last crisis of the
King's fortunes canto, he resigned his Irish com mand, and retired to France. from which country he again returned to Ireland, With the all but desperate design of restoring the royal authority. After a gallant but unequal struggle. he was compelled, in 1650, to return once more to Frame. Ili, services to the royal cause continued unremitting during his exile; and at the Restora tion he accompanied ('harks 11. on his return. and was rewarded for his fidelity by the dueal title of Ormonde. Ilis after-life was less event ful. although he to ice again returned to the government of Ireland. In 1670 occurred the well-known attempt by the nonillion. Colonel Blood (q.v.) upon the life of fh•uonde. lie escaped uninjured. and lived until the year 16s8. Ilk letters and papers were published under the title, Original rs and l'apors•(bu uoeiiy the A ff?tit•s of England. 1611-60 iLondon, 1730). Consult Carte, Lib of the Dukc of Or monde (last ed., Oxford, IS51).