Quick Facts
Biography
James Edward William Theobald Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde KP PC (5 October 1844 – 26 October 1919), styled Earl of Ossory until 1854, was an Irish nobleman.
Family
He was the son of John Butler, 2nd Marquess of Ormonde and Frances Jane Paget. His father held the title "Earl of Ossory" as one of his subsidiary titles, which made James Butler the Earl of Ossory by courtesy until his father died in 1854.
He was the last marquess of Ormonde to live at Kilkenny Castle. He and his wife entertained Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at the castle in 1904.
Career
A Colonel in the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles and Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, he was Vice-Admiral of Leinster and a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. He was awarded the Order of the Crown of Prussia (first class). He was invested as a Knight, Order of St Patrick(K.P.) in 1868. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of County Kilkenny between 1878 and 1919.
He was the first patron of Dublin Swimming Club, Ireland's first swimming club, founded in 1881. He held that role until his death in 1919.
Marriage and Children
He married Lady Elizabeth Harriet Grosvenor, daughter of Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster, on 2 February 1876. They had two daughters:
- Beatrice Butler (1876–1952), married with Lt.-Gen. Sir Reginald Pole-Carew, KCB CVO, leaving issue.
- Constance Mary Butler (1879–1949), died unmarried.
The title was passed to his brother James Butler, 4th Marquess of Ormonde as a result of his lack of male heirs.