William Francis Butler

Lieutenant General Sir William Francis Butler (31 October 18387 June 1910) was an Irish 19th-century British Army officer, writer, and adventurer. Military career He was born at Ballyslatteen, Golden, County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Richard and Ellen Butler. The great famine of 1847 and scenes of suffering and eviction were amongst his earliest recollections. He was educated chiefly by the Jesuits at Tullabeg College. He entered the army as an ensign of the 69th Foot at Fermoy Barracks in 1858, becoming captain in 1872 and major in 1874. He took part with distinction in the Red River expedition (1870–71) and the Ashanti operations of 1873–74 under Wolseley and received the Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1874.