Sir Richard Butler, 5th Baronet (1699 – 25 November 1771) was an Irish politician and baronet.

Early life

He was the eldest son of James Butler and Frances ( Abney) Parker Butler. His mother was the widow of Sir John Parker, who lived at Fermoyle in County Longford. His father was the second son of Sir Thomas Butler, 3rd Baronet and his mother was a daughter of Sir Edward Abney, MP for Leicester.

Career

Butler represented County Carlow in the Irish House of Commons from 1730 to 1761. In 1732, he succeeded his uncle Pierce as baronet.

Personal life

In 1728, he married Henrietta Percy (1701–1794), daughter of Sir Henry Percy and Eliza ( Paul) Percy. Her grandfather was Sir Anthony Percy, Lord Mayor of London in 1699. Together, they had four sons and six daughters, including: Sir Richard died on 25 November 1771 and was succeeded by his eldest son Thomas.

Descendants

His great-grandson, hereditary and absentee plantation owner Pierce Mease Butler, authorized The Great Slave Auction of 1859 to pay gambling debts.