Samuel Butcher

Vice-Admiral Samuel Butcher (22 November 1770 – 8 May 1849) was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

Biography Butcher was born in Cople, Bedfordshire, the son of Thomas Butcher of Northampton, and Elizabeth Ives, and was the grandson of Robert Butcher of Ickleford, Hertfordshire, Lord of the manor of Ravensden, and high sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1761. He entered the Navy on 4 February 1786, as captain's servant on board the cutter , under the command of his relative Lieutenant Robert Barlow, employed in suppressing smuggling in the English Channel. From November 1788 Butcher served as an able seaman in , the flagship of Admiral Mark Milbanke at Newfoundland.

In June 1791 Butcher rejoined Barlow as a master's mate in the 16-gun brig-sloop , attached to the Channel Fleet. He later served in the 98-gun ship , bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner, and was present at the unsuccessful first attempt to capture Martinique in 1793. He also took part, under Admiral Lord Howe, in the actions of 28 and 29 May, and 1 June 1794, on the two last days with the rank of acting-lieutenant. For these and other services Butcher was promoted to post-rank on 29 April 1802, during the Peace of Amiens. On 23 October 1813 and Antelope recaptured the Alida. On 24 October 1813 Antelope and Bruizer captured the Danish privateer Eleonora. then to vice-admiral on 19 February 1847. He died at Cobh, County Cork, on 8 May 1849, and was interred in the family vault at St. Mary's, Shandon, Cork. Thomas Arthur Butcher (1812–1840) Dr. Richard George Herbert Butcher, MD MRIA FRCS (1816–1891), President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 1866–67. Hilaire Frances Butcher (1817–?) Edward Robert Butcher (1819–1831) George Butcher (1820–1839) Major-General Arthur Butcher, Royal Marines Light Infantry (1822–1883) Helena Butcher (1823–1839) Elizabeth Anne Butcher (1825–1826) Captain John Barlow Butcher, Royal Marines Light Infantry (1827–1888)

Coat of arms According to the visitation of the Ulster King of Arms, Butcher of Danesfort, Killarney, County Kerry, and Cork was entitled to a coat of arms described thusly: Escutcheon: Vert, an elephant argent. Crest. A branch of a cotton tree fructed proper. Motto: "Be steady".