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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Buttler, George

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1643569A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Buttler, GeorgeWilliam Richard O'Byrne

BUTTLER. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 24; h-p., 19.)

George Buttler was born in 1791.

This officer entered the Navy, 5 Feb. 1804, as Third-cl. Boy, on board the Venus 32, Capt. Henry Matson, on the Irish station, where, and off Boulogne, he continued to serve with considerable activity, the greater part of the time as Fst.-cl. Vol., until Jan. 1806; a few months previously to which period, 10 July, 1805, he assisted at the capture of L’Hirondelle privateer of 16 guns and 90 men. He then removed, as Midshipman, to the Lion 64, Capts. Robt. Rolles and Henry Heathcote, and for the next four years was constantly engaged in escorting convoys to and from the East Indies and China. Joining, in June, 1810, the Africaine of 48 guns, Capt. Robt. Corbett, he was, on 13 Sept., present, off Bourbon, in a desperate action of two hours and a half, which rendered that ship a prize, after sustaining a loss of 49 men killed and 114 (including her Captain mortally) wounded, to the Astrée of 44, and Iphigénie of 42 guns. Mr. Buttler, on 10 Dec. ensuing, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to the Cornelia 36, Capt. Henry Folkes Edgell, but was soon transferred to the Barracouta 18, Capt. Wm. Fitzwilliam Owen; in command of the boats of which vessel he cut out several piratical proas from the coast of Java. We subsequently find him, while belonging to the Doris 36, Capt. Wm. Jones Lye, assisting at the reduction of the latter island. He returned home in Oct. 1812, with a constitution much impaired from the pestilential effects of the Javese climate; became attached, 9 Oct. 1813, to the Prince 98, flag-ship at Spithead of Sir Rich. Bickerton; and was paid off in April, 1815. Since that period his appointments have been – 29 Nov. 1831, to the Caledonia 120, Capt. Jas. Hillyar, off Lisbon, whence he returned home and was paid off early in 1833 – 20 Jan. 1836, to the Coast Guard – and, 13 July, 1842, to the command of the Meteor steamer, on the Mediterranean station. He was promoted to his present rank 9 Nov. 1846; and still continues in the Meteor.

Commander Buttler is married, and has issue six children. Agent – J. Hinxman.