Thomas Butler (Louisiana politician)

American politician (1785–1847)

Thomas Butler (April 14, 1785 – August 7, 1847) was an American politician and lawyer who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1818 to 1821, representing the at large congressional district of Louisiana as a member of the Democratic Republican Party.

Butler was born near Carlisle, Pennsylvania on April 14, 1785 to Thomas Butler and Sarah Jane Semple. He attended the common schools and received a college education in Pittsburgh.

Butler studied law and was admitted to the bar, after which he commenced practice in Pittsburgh. He moved to Mississippi Territory in 1807 and was admitted to the bar there the following year. Butler became the captain of a cavalry troop in the Mississippi Territory Militia in 1810. he purchased land in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, settling there in 1811. Butler was appointed parish judge on December 14, 1812. He was subsequently appointed judge of the third district by Louisiana governor William C. C. Claiborne on March 4, 1813. Butler was elected as a member of the Democratic Republican Party to the 15th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thomas B. Robertson. He was subsequently elected to a full term in the 16th United States Congress. Butler's time in office began on November 16, 1818 and concluded on March 3, 1821. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1820. Following his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, Butler was appointed special judge of the third judicial district in 1822 and 1840. He became affiliated with the Whig Party, then the American Party. Butler ran as a candidate in the 1824 Louisiana gubernatorial election. He came in last, receiving less than 3% of the vote. Butler also ran as a candidate in the 1828 Louisiana gubernatorial election, placing second and receiving over 21% of the popular vote. Due to ill health, Butler declined to be a candidate for Congress in 1844. He instead became the owner of sugar and cotton plantations, as well as president of the Board of Trustees of Louisiana College, located in Jackson, Louisiana. Additionally, Butler was a member of the Louisiana Historical Society.

Butler married Anne Madeline Ellis in 1813. They had eight children together.