William Butler (judge)

American judge (1822–1909)

William Butler

Butler in a 1899 publication

Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In office
February 19, 1879 – January 31, 1899
Appointed by| Rutherford B. Hayes
Preceded by| John Cadwalader
Succeeded by| John Bayard McPherson
Personal details
Born|

William Butler

(1822-12-02)December 2, 1822
Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died| November 2, 1909(1909-11-02) (aged 86)
Chester County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place| Oaklands Cemetery
Education| read law

William Butler (December 2, 1822 – November 2, 1909) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

## Education and career[edit]

William Butler was born on December 2, 1822, in Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania. He read law and was admitted to the bar on December 14, 1845. He was in private practice in West Chester, Pennsylvania and was district attorney of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from 1856 to 1859. He was presiding judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Harrisburg from October 8, 1861, to his resignation on February 17, 1879.[1][2]

## Federal judicial service[edit]

On February 12, 1879, Butler was nominated by President Rutherford B. Hayes to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge John Cadwalader. Butler was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 19, 1879, and received his commission the same day. Butler served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on January 31, 1899.[1]

## Death[edit]

His son William Butler Jr. was also a judge.[2]

Butler died on November 2, 1909, in Chester County.[1] He was interred at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester.[3]

His younger brother was Samuel Butler, who served as a Pennsylvania state representative and state treasurer.[4]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c William Butler at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. ^ a b West Chester, Past and Present; Centennial Souvenir. Daily Local News. 1899. p. 98. Retrieved November 27, 2023 - via Archive.org.
3. ^ "Samuel Butler Dead - The Ex-State Treasurer Passes Away After Much Suffering". Pittsburgh Dispatch. February 2, 1891. p. 1. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
4. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Darlington-Butler family of West Chester, Pennsylvania". www.politicalgraveyard.com. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 14, 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Media related to William Butler (judge) at Wikimedia Commons

Legal offices

Preceded by

John Cadwalader

|  Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
1879–1899  | Succeeded by

John Bayard McPherson