A Compendium of Irish Biography/Butler, James, 3rd Earl of Ormond

by Alfred Webb

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Butler, James, 3rd Earl of Ormond, son of preceding, styled "Earl of Gowran," from having built Gowran Castle. In 1391 he purchased the estate of Kilkenny Castle, thenceforth the seat of the Butlers. He filled several important offices connected with the government of Ireland; "being a mighty strong man, he is styled in some annals, the head of the chivalry of Ireland, which kingdom he governed to the content of the King and his good subjects." He was not only successful in many of his incursions against the native chieftains, but checked the depredations of Scotch and Welsh pirates upon the Irish coasts. He died at Gowran, 7th September 1405. ^{[1] [2]}

Authorities

1. Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, Revised and Enlarged by Mervyn Archdall. 7 vols. Dublin, 1789.
2. Ormond, Duke of. Life 1610–'88: Thomas A. Carte, M. A. 6 vols. Oxford, 1851.