John Butler, 15th Earl of Ormonde


John Butler, known as John Butler of Kilcash, a member of the Irish landed gentry, was de jure 15th Earl of Ormonde and 8th Earl of Ossory. He did not assume these titles as he thought them forfeit by the attainder of the 2nd Duke of Ormond. He did, however, inherit the Ormond estate from the 1st Earl of Arran through his sister Amelia. In 1791, the title of Earl of Ormond would be successfully claimed by his cousin, the 17th Earl.

Birth and origins

John was born about 1720, probably at Kilcash Castle, his parents' habitual residence. He was the third but only surviving son of Thomas Butler of Garryricken and his wife Margaret Magennis. His father belonged to a cadet branch of the Butler Dynasty, being the grandson and heir of Richard Butler of Kilcash, who was the younger brother of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond. John's mother was the eldest daughter of William Burke, 7th Earl of Clanricarde and widow of Bryan Magennis, 5th Viscount of Iveagh. His parents were both Catholic. They had married in 1696. They had eight children, three sons and five daughters.

Inheritances and successions

In 1738 his father died. John inherited Kilcash and other parts of the lands of Garryricken Manor, which had been created for his grandfather Richard Butler of Kilcash shortly after 1639 and had been divided between his father and his uncle John, who held Garryricken House itself. He did not inherit any title as his father held none.
In 1758, on the death of the 1st Earl of Arran, his father's second cousin, he unknowingly became de jure the 15th Earl of Ormond. It had been believed that all the titles of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormond became forfeit in 1715. However, in 1791, it was found that the title of "Earl of Ormond" in the peerage of Ireland had merely lain dormant and so were successfully revived by John Butler's cousin, John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde.
Following the second Duke's attainder, his estate was administrated by the Forfeited Estates Commissioners. With the permission of the Parliament of Ireland, the estate was purchased in 1721 by the second Duke's brother, Charles, the Earl of Arran. Arran died childless in 1758. The estate passed to his unmarried sister Lady Amelia Butler, who held it for about two years. On her death in 1760, the estate was inherited by John Butler, the subject of this article.

Marriage

John Butler married Bridget Stacey on 19 April 1763, but the marriage was childless.

Death and succession

He died in 1766 and was buried at Kilcash. He was succeeded by his cousin Walter, the son of his uncle John, who unknowingly became de jure the 16th Earl of Ormond.