John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde

Irish earl (1740–1795)

John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde, 10th Earl of Ossory (1740–1795) was an Irish peer and Member of Parliament (MP). He became a Protestant in 1764. He was an Irish MP, representing Gowran between 1776 and 1783, and Kilkenny City between 1783 and 1792. In 1791, his right to the peerage was acknowledged in the Irish House of Lords and he became the 17th Earl of Ormond.

John was born on 10 December 1740 at Garryricken. He was the only son, of Walter Butler and his wife Ellen Morres. At the time of his birth his father was the heir apparent of his father the esquire of Garryricken. In 1766 his father would become the de jure 16th Earl of Ormond. His father's family, the Butler dynasty, was Old English and descended from Theobald Walter, who had been appointed Chief Butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177. John's mother was a daughter of Nicholas Morres of the Court, County Dublin, granddaughter of Sir John Morres, 7th Baronet Morres of Knockagh. John was one of four siblings, who are listed in his father's article.

In 1783 his father died in Kilkenny Castle. John inherited Kilkenny and the lands, notably those that his father had inherited from John Butler of Kilcash, the de jure 15th Earl of Ormond, in 1766. In 1784 his father in law, the Earl of Wandesford died. His titles became extinct, but John inherited the land and the coal mines.

In 1791 he claimed the title of Earl of Ormond, which was believed to have become extinct in 1715. The Irish House of Lords accepted this claim and he was restored to become the 17th Earl of Ormonde.

Ormond, as he now was, died on 25 or 30 December 1795 at Kilkenny Castle and was buried in Kilcash. His widow died in Dublin in 1830. He was succeeded by his son Walter, who was made a Marquess in 1816. TimelineAgeDateEvent01740, 10 DecBorn at Garryricken1760, 25 OctAccession of King George III, succeeding King George II1764, 16 DecBecame a Protestant1766, 24 JunFather inherited the estate of John Butler of Kilcash and unknowingly became de jure the 16th Earl of Ormond.1769, 26 FebMarried Frances Susan Elizabeth Wandesford1783Father died at Kilkenny Castle.1784Father in law died, and he inherits in the name of his wife.1791Became Earl of Ormond1795, DecDied