Weeden Butler

Weeden Butler the elder (1742–1823) was an English cleric and writer.

Life Butler was born at Margate on 22 September 1742. Orphaned as a young child, he was later articled to the attorney Benjamin Rosewell in London, but left the legal profession for the church. He acted as amanuensis to William Dodd, the clerical fraudster, from 1764 until Dodd was hanged in 1777. In 1776, he had succeeded Dodd as the morning preacher at the Charlotte Street chapel in Pimlico, a fashionable place of worship. He officiated here until 1814.

In 1778, Butler was the lecturer at St Clement Eastcheap and St Martin Orgars, and for more than 40 years he was the master of a classical school in Chelsea.

In 1814, Butler retired to Gayton, Northamptonshire, where he acted as curate to his son until 1820. Then, in poor health, he went at first to the Isle of Wight, then to Bristol, then finally to Greenhill, Harrow, where he died on 14 July 1823. He was chaplain to the Duke of Kent and the Queen's Volunteers. He also prepared editions of John Jortin's Tracts, 2 vols. 1790, and Joseph Wilcocks's Roman Conversations, 2 vols. 1797.

Family He was father of Weeden Butler the younger, and of George Butler, headmaster of Harrow School.