Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

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Pierce Butler (July 11, 1744 – February 15, 1822) was an Irish-American South Carolina rice planter, slaveholder, politician, an officer in the Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He served as a state legislator, a member of the Congress of the Confederation, a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention where he signed the United States Constitution, and was a member of the United States Senate.

Born in County Carlow, Ireland, Butler pursued preparatory studies before coming to America as an officer in the British Army. He resigned his commission in the British Army in 1773 and settled in Charleston, South Carolina and worked as a planter while aiding the American cause during the Revolutionary War. In early 1779, Governor John Rutledge asked the former Redcoat to help reorganize South Carolina's defenses. Butler assumed the post of the state's adjutant general, a position that carried the rank of brigadier general. He preferred to be addressed as major, his highest combat rank.

Testifying to his growing political influence, the South Carolina legislature asked Butler to represent the state at the Constitutional Convention that met in Philadelphia in 1787. Butler's experiences as a soldier and planter-legislator led to his forceful support for a strong union of the states. At the same time, he looked to the special interests of his region. He introduced the Fugitive Slave Clause (Article 4, Section 2), which established protection for slavery in the Constitution. Butler displayed inconsistencies that troubled his associates. He favored ratification of the Constitution yet did not attend the South Carolina convention that ratified it. Later, he was elected by the South Carolina state legislature to three separate terms in the United States Senate but changed his party allegiance: beginning as a Federalist, he switched to the Jeffersonian party ahead of the 1792 Senate election. In 1804, he declared himself a political independent. After these successive changes, voters did not elect Butler again to national office.

Butler retired from politics in 1805 and spent much of his time in Philadelphia where he had previously established a summer home. Butler became one of the wealthiest men in the United States, with huge land holdings in several states, through his business ventures. Butler died in Philadelphia and was buried in a vault in the cemetery of Christ Church, Philadelphia along with many of his descendants.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Letter : Dorchester, [S.C.], to [Thomas Fitzsimmons?], 1786 May 30. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Autograph letter signed : near Darien, to Mr. Petit de Villers, 1808 Feb. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Estate papers, 1810-1894 (inclusive), 1846-1891 (bulk). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Note : to John Ross, 1795 Oct. 23. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Little Saint Simons Island collection, 1772-1908.
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Autograph letter signed : Butler's Island, to Mr. Petit de Villers, 1808 Jan. 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. Diaries, 1815-1839. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS, 1810 March 29 : Hampton, to F.D. Petit de Villers. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS, 1800 July 25, Philadelphia, to Elias Boudinot, Philadelphia. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Cutting, Nathaniel, d. 1822. Journal and letterbooks, 1786-1798. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Pierce Butler papers, 1779-1787. Library of Congress
referencedIn Butler family. Papers, 1771-1900. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS : to an unknown correspondent, 1814 Mar. 13. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Neufville, John, 1727-1804. John Neufville land conveyance, 1793. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Autograph letter signed, 1813 Sept. 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS : to Salvadore Lund, 1814 Jan. 27. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Autograph note in the third person : [Washington, D.C.?], to Mr. Nicholson, "Thursday evening." Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Vanderhorst, John, d. 1787. John Vanderhorst papers, 1774-1804 (bulk 1786-1804). South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Coxe family. Papers, 1638-1897 (inclusive), 1776-1879 (bulk). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Letter book [microform], 1790 Jan. 23-1794 May 7. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Autograph letter signed : Charleston, to Mr. Clay, [18]09 Mar. 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. [Letter] 1817 Apr. 26, Philada., [to James Monroe], "my dear Sir," / P. Butler. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS, 1785, August 12, Amsterdam, to unknown. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817. Letter, 1798 Feb. 3, [to] Rob[er]t E. Griffith. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Historical manuscripts collection, 1347-1969, bulk: 1775-1885 Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Pierce Butler letter, 21 Jan. 1809.
creatorOf Historical manuscripts, 1746-1908.
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS, 1806 February 3 : near Darien, [Georgia], to F.D. Petit de Villers, Savanna [sic]. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Graham, John, ca. 1718-1795. John Graham releases, 1774. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Autograph note signed, 1793 Aug. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS : to Thomas Fitzsimons, 1782 Nov. 8. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Peale's Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.) minutes; accounts, 1820-1845, 1820-1845 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. ALS, 1791 November 25 : Philadelphia, to unknown. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Letterbooks, 1787-1822. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Drayton family. Drayton family papers, 1783-1896, bulk 1830-1880. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Meleney, John C., 1921-. John C. Meleney research files, 1775-1986, (bulk, 1775-1808). University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Letter : to Petit de Villers, 1808. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Peale's Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.). Minutes ; accounts, 1820-1845. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Pierce Butler letters to F.D. Petit de Villers, 1800-1807 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Butler, Weeden, 1742-1823. Letter, 1788 Sept. 2, Chelsea, [London, England], from [Rev.] W[eeden] Butler [to] Hon. P[ierce] Butler. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn LETTERS from Major Pierce Butler, of Charlestown, South Carolina, Member of the American Senate (son of Lady Harriot Butler, of Ballin Temple, county Carlow), addressed to the Rev. Weeden Butler, of Chelsea, and to Thomas Butler (son of MajorB.); dat..., 1784-1799 British Library
referencedIn Hampton family. Hampton family papers, 1773-1974. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821, person
memberOf British Army corporateBody
memberOf Butler family. family
associatedWith Butler, Gabriella M. person
associatedWith Butler, John. person
childOf Butler, Richard, 1699-1771 person
correspondedWith Butler, Weeden, 1742-1823. person
associatedWith Clay, Joseph, 1741-1804, person
associatedWith Coxe family. family
associatedWith Cutting, Nathaniel, d. 1822. person
associatedWith Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith De Villers, F. D. Petit. person
associatedWith Drayton family. family
associatedWith Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811, person
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. person
associatedWith Free Library of Philadelphia. corporateBody
associatedWith Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814. person
associatedWith Graham, John, ca. 1718-1795. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804. person
associatedWith Hampton family. family
associatedWith Lansing, John, 1754-1829. person
associatedWith Leigh, Frances Butler, 1838-1910. person
correspondedWith Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810 person
associatedWith Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
associatedWith Mease, Sarah Butler person
associatedWith Meleney, John C., 1921- person
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831, person
associatedWith Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821. person
associatedWith Neufville, John, 1727-1804. person
associatedWith Nicholson, John, 1757-1800, person
associatedWith Paterson, William, 1745-1806. person
associatedWith Peale's Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.). corporateBody
correspondedWith Petit de Villers, F. D. person
associatedWith Petit de Villers, Mr, person
associatedWith Pinckney, Charles, 1757-1824. person
associatedWith Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, 1746-1825. person
associatedWith Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813. person
associatedWith Ross, John. person
associatedWith Rutledge, John, 1739-1800. person
associatedWith Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. person
memberOf South Carolina. Militia corporateBody
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Constitutional Convention (1787) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith Vanderhorst, John, d. 1787. person
associatedWith Villers, Petit de. person
associatedWith Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819. person
associatedWith Wilson, James, 1742-1798. person
associatedWith Wister, Owen Butler, 1835-1908. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Charleston SC US
Philadelphia PA US
County Carlow L IE
Subject
Slavery
Agriculture
Commerce
Embargo
Embargo, 1807-1809
Finance, Personal
Finance, Public
Inheritance and succession
Plantation owners
Plantations
Real property
Real estate investment
Secularization
Shipment of goods
Speculation
Occupation
Army officers, British
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Militia officers
Plantation owners
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1744-07-11

Death 1822-02-15

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Information

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