A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Butler, William
BUTLER. (Lieutenant, 1840.)
William Butler entered the Navy 2 May, 1830; passed his examination 3 May, 1837; served for some time, as Mate, in the Opossum, Falmouth packet, Lieut.-Commander Robt. Peter; and on joining the Cyclops steam-vessel, Capt. Horatio Thos. Austin, bore a creditable part in most of the operations on the coast of Syria, where he distinguished himself by the able assistance he afforded his Captain in an attack on the strong tower of Gebail, 12 Sept. 1840, on which occasion he formed one of a gallant party that landed and advanced to the walls, although ultimately compelled to return with loss.[1] Towards the close of the same month we again find him employed on shore at the capture of 36 bags of barley and of four camels, on their way from Sidon to Beyrout.[2] He was promoted 5 Nov. following; became First-Lieutenant of the Ardent steam-sloop, Capt. John Russell, in South America, 15 Nov. 1841; obtained, 28 Feb. 1843, an appointment in the Coast Guard, which he retained until the summer of 1844; and since 29 Sept. 1846, has been again employed in the same service.