William Butler, an American soldier, born in Prince "William county, Va., about 1757, died at Columbia, S. C, in 1821. He graduated at South Carolina college as a physician, became lieutenant in the army of Lincoln in 1779, was engaged in the battle of Stono, and served in the corps of Pulaski. At the first rising of the partisan leaders in the Carolinas, Butler joined the troops under Pickens, served with Lee under Greene, after whose defeat at Ninety-Six he took the field as a partisan, rose to a command in the mounted rangers, and took part in many sharp encounters with the tories, being usually employed in movements which demanded boldness and celerity. In 1787 he was a member of the convention to consider the adoption of the federal constitution, against which he voted, was subsequently a member of the convention which formed the constitution of South Carolina, and held several civil offices. In 1796 he was elected major general of militia. In 1800 he was chosen a member . of congress, and in 1806 was appointed chairman of the committee of investigation in the case of Gen. Wilkinson, who was charged with complicity in the Burr conspiracy.

He resigned his seat in congress in 1813 to make way for John C. Calhoun; and in 1814 he was called by the governor to take command of the forces of South Carolina, supposed to be in danger of invasion by the British. At the close of the war he retired to his plantation. He was father of A. P. Butler, United States senator, and of William Butler, who was a member of congress for a single term.