BUTLER, WILLIAM ORLANDO (1791-ISSO).
An American soldier and politician. He was born in Jessamine County. Ky.; early removed with his parents to Bullitt County; and in 1812 graduated at Transylvania University. On the outbreak of the War of 18I2 he joined a company of Kentucky volunteers, and subse quently participated in the engagements of January IS and January 22, 1813, on the river Raisin. (See FRENCHTOWN.) He was held for some time as a captive, but afterwards took an active part, as captain, in the engagement at Pensacola. in that of December 23, 1814, at New Orleans (for which he was brevetted major), and in the famous battle of New Orleans, on January S, 1815. In May, 1817, he resigned from the service and returned to Kentucky, where he became a successful lawyer and poli tician. He served for three consecutive terms after IS17 in the State Legislature, and from 1539 to 1S43 was a member of Congress. In 1S44 he was Democratic candidate for Governor of the State. and, though defeated, reduced the Whig majority from 28,000 to something over 4000. He was appointed major-general of vol unteers in June, 1546, for service in the Mexican War; joined General Taylor soon afterwards; took a prominent part in the northern cam paign, distinguishing himself particularly at Monterey, where he was wounded; joined Gen eral Scott at Mexico City, with a considerable reinforcement; and participated in the final operations of the southern campaign. On Feb
ruary 18, 1S48, nine days after the signing of the preliminary treaty with Mexico, and about three months before the proclamation of peace (on May 29). he superseded Scott as command ing general of the American Army. On August 15, 1S4S. he again left, the service, and in the Presidential campaign of that year he was the Democratic candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with General Cass. Subsequently, until his death. he lived almost wholly in retirement, though in 1861 he attended the celebrated `Peace Conference' at Washington. Ile pub lished a collection of poems entitled, The Boat man's Horn, and Other Poems. For his life, consult Blair, The Life and Public Serrices of General O. Butler (Baltimore, 1848).