A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Butcher, Jonathan
BUTCHER. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 39; h-p., 5.)
Jonathan Butcher, born 9 Oct. 1789, is brother of Lieut. Robt. Butcher, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, in 1803, as a Boy, on board the Medina yacht, Capts. John Moore and Peter Baskerfield, lying off the Isle of Wight; joined the Glory 98, Rear-Admiral Chas. Stirling, as Midshipman, 21 June, 1805; and, on 22 July following, was present in Sir Robt. Calder’s action with the combined squadrons of France and Spain. Between Jan. and Nov. 1808, he next served, with Rear-Admirals Wm. Albany Otway and Chas. Tyler, in the Ganges 74, and Barfleur 98, and, while in the latter ship, was employed in embarking the French troops after the convention of Cintra, and in escorting from Lisbon to Spithead the first division of the Russian Rear-Admiral Seniavin’s fleet. He then joined the Africaine 38, Capt. Rich. Raggett, under whom he successively accompanied the present King of the French to Malta, and the late Lord Hill, with a convoy of transports, from Cork to Lisbon. In June, 1810, he followed Capt. Raggett into the Defiance 74, employed off Flushing, from which ship he was for some time detached on secret service, in the Alban cutter, and in the boats. He passed his examination 7 Aug. 1811; served, between Dec. 1812, and Feb. 1814, in the Argo 44, and Bedford 74, flag-ships in the West Indies of Vice-Admiral C. Stirling, and York 74, Capt. Alex. Wilmot Schomberg, on the Home station; and afterwards, having rejoined Capt. Raggett in the Spencer 74, assisted at the capture of Castine, in Penobscot Bay. On 23 Feb. 1815, Mr. Butcher was confirmed a Lieutenant in the Clinker gun-brig, Capt. Joseph Crew Tullidge, and during the “Hundred Days” he appears to hare been employed in conveying the Duc de Douro and 200 French officers in the interests of Louis XVIII., together with 10,000 stand of arms, to the coast of France; after which he aided in quelling the riots at North and South Shields, and was paid off 5 Dec. in the same year. He subsequently served for two years in a transport at the Cape of Good Hope. He joinned the Coast Guard 22 Nov. 1822; removed, 18 Feb. 1827, to the command of the Redbreast R.C., stationed in Boston Deeps, where he remained until 11 July, 1842, during which period he seized eight vessels and acted 13 times as an Inspecting-Commander; and since the latter date has again been in charge of a station on shore.
Lieut. Butcher married, 8 Dec. 1815, Sarah Long, daughter of John Taplin, Esq., of Portsmouth, and has issue six children. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.