William Henry Butler
Encyclopedia
William Henry Butler was an English wine merchant and Mayor of Oxford.
William Butler was the ninth of the ten children. His parents were James and Jane (née Slatter) Butler from All Saints
parish in Oxford
. He married Elizabeth Briggs at St Giles' Church, Northampton
, on 13 February 1817.
Butler became a wine merchant in the middle section of the High Street
in central Oxford. Around 1820, he moved to new premises at Carfax
, in the very centre of Oxford, on the corner of St Aldate's
and Queen Street
.
William Butler joined Oxford's Common Council on 30 September 1815, was elected Senior Chamberlain
in 1819, and Senior Bailiff in 1824. He became Mayor of Oxford from January to October 1836. Soon after being Mayor, Butler retired to live at Linden House (now known as the Priory) in the Old High Street at Headington
, east of central Oxford. He became a magistrate
and alderman
.
In 1865, William Butler was buried in the churchyard at Carfax in the centre of Oxford in the grave of his first wife Elizabeth Briggs and their two infant daughters. In 1900, the church was demolished to make way for road improvements and as a consequence the grave and tombstone were forgotten. It is probable the tombstone was made by either John Gibbs
of Oxford (father of William Henry Butler's second wife) or one of John Gibbs's employees. The tombstone is still in its original position and can be viewed at the rear of the tower.
William Butler was the ninth of the ten children. His parents were James and Jane (née Slatter) Butler from All Saints
All Saints Church, Oxford
All Saints Church is on the north side of the High Street in central Oxford, England, on the corner of Turl Street. It is now the library of Lincoln College. This former church is Grade I listed.-History:...
parish in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. He married Elizabeth Briggs at St Giles' Church, Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, on 13 February 1817.
Butler became a wine merchant in the middle section of the High Street
High Street, Oxford
The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...
in central Oxford. Around 1820, he moved to new premises at Carfax
Carfax, Oxford
Carfax is located at the conjunction of St Aldate's , Cornmarket Street , Queen Street and the High Street in Oxford, England. It is considered to be the centre of the city, and is at...
, in the very centre of Oxford, on the corner of St Aldate's
St Aldate's, Oxford
St Aldate's is a street in central Oxford, England. It is named after Saint Aldate of whom little is known, although it has also been suggested that the name is a corruption of 'old gate', referring to the south gate in the former city walls. St Aldate's Church is on the west side of the street, in...
and Queen Street
Queen Street, Oxford
Queen Street is a shopping street in central Oxford, England. It is one-way for buses and taxis, two-way for cyclists outside main shopping hours, and forbidden for cars. It runs west from the centre of Oxford at Carfax...
.
William Butler joined Oxford's Common Council on 30 September 1815, was elected Senior Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
in 1819, and Senior Bailiff in 1824. He became Mayor of Oxford from January to October 1836. Soon after being Mayor, Butler retired to live at Linden House (now known as the Priory) in the Old High Street at Headington
Headington
Headington is a suburb of Oxford, England. It is at the top of Headington Hill overlooking the city in the Thames Valley below. The life of the large residential area is centred upon London Road, the main road between London and Oxford.-History:...
, east of central Oxford. He became a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
and alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
.
In 1865, William Butler was buried in the churchyard at Carfax in the centre of Oxford in the grave of his first wife Elizabeth Briggs and their two infant daughters. In 1900, the church was demolished to make way for road improvements and as a consequence the grave and tombstone were forgotten. It is probable the tombstone was made by either John Gibbs
John Gibbs (architect)
John Gibbs was a British Gothic Revival architect based in Wigan, Manchester, and Oxford, England.- Life :John Gibbs was initially in Oxford but he moved to Wigan in the 1850s and then Manchester in the north of England....
of Oxford (father of William Henry Butler's second wife) or one of John Gibbs's employees. The tombstone is still in its original position and can be viewed at the rear of the tower.