83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot – Royal Irish Rifles – Ornithologist
Edward Arthur Butler born 3rd July 1843 at Marylebone, Westminster, London, the son of the Right Honourable Charles Lennox Butler 1813-1885 and Eliza Butler (nee Holland) 1813-1866. Edward’s father Charles was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1813, the son of James Butler 1780-1850, 13th Baron of Dunboyne.
After being educated at Eton, Edward joined the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot as Ensign by purchase in March 1864. Having spent some time with the regiment posted at various locations throughout England, the 83rd Regiment embarked at Liverpool in January 1866 for transport to Ireland.
In March 1867, the depot companies of the 83rd Regiment were moved from Dublin to Colchester in England. In April, the regiment embarked the troopship “Himalaya” at Kingstown, Ireland, from where it was transported to Gibraltar. On 17th April 1867, Edward was promoted to Lieutenant by purchase.
A keen ornithologist, the next three years garrisoned at Gibraltar, gave Edward the first opportunity for him to collect birds from abroad. During this time, Edward also enjoyed the friendship of Howard Irby, a British ornithologist and fellow army officer, who specialised in the study of birds in southern Iberia.
Having served their time at Gibraltar, the 83rd Regiment embarked the troopship “Tamar” 11th March 1870, at the beginning of the journey to India. Arriving at Bombay 8th April 1870, the regiment then proceeded to Poona where it was quartered in Wanourie Barracks. Poona, located 120 miles southeast of Bombay in the western state of Maharashtra, was one of the most important military and administrative centres for the British in India.
On 28th May 1870, Edward was promoted to Captain by purchase. Edward remained with the regiment stationed at various locations throughout India for the next eleven years. During his time in India, Edward continued his passion for ornithology and set about studying and cataloging the birds of the region.
In May 1872, Edward married Clara Maria Francis, daughter of Colonel J T Francis Bombay Staff Corps.
Towards the end of 1880, the 83rd Regiment was ordered back to England. In January 1881, however, the regiment was diverted to Natal in South Africa, where an outbreak of hostilities with the Boers would see the 83rd Regiment on active field service. In July, the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot became the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, under the Childers reforms. In the same month, Edward was promoted to Major.
After spending much of its time on rear-area labouring duties in South Africa, the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, 15 officers and 489 men, embarked on the troopship “Tamar” 23rd November 1881, arriving at Portsmouth 3rd January 1882.
On returning to England, the regiment was split between various locations. In September 1882, Edward took command of the Depot Companies of the regiment in Belfast.
On 18th April 1885, Edward retired from the army with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel after twenty-one years service. By 1891, Edward was living in Suffolk at Herringfleet Hall with his wife and five servants.
By 1901, Edward and his wife had moved to a new home in Suffolk, Plumpton House at Whepstead. There they retained five servants, a butler, housekeeper/cook and three maids.
By 1911, the couple had moved once more and were living at Winsford Hall Stokesby nr Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. In 1912, Edward’s wife Clara died 24th July, and was buried at St Mary’s Church, Thrigby, Norfolk.
Now living alone, Edward remained at Stokesby, until 16th April 1916, when Edward’s body was found in the garden by his butler. News of the death of Edward Butler was reported in The Journal 22nd April 1916, under the heading “Tragic Death of Col. Butler”.
An obituary published in the magazine “The Ibis” said of Edward, “Butler was an extremely good field-ornithologist, with a wonderful “eye for a bird,” instantly recognising any species he had previously met with at the merest glimpse of it, and at almost any distance. He was a very keen sportsman, an untiring walker, and a capital shot. The many beautifully prepared bird-skins which he collected in his time remain in the Natural History Museum.
He married in 1872 Clara, second daughter of the late General J. T. Francis, Bombay Staff Corps. Her death in 1912 was a great blow to him, and after it he became somewhat of a recluse, busying himself with his garden and his collections, and going about very little.”
Edward was buried with his wife Clara at St Mary’s Church, Thrigby, Norfolk.
For a more in-depth story of Edward Arthur Butler’s life, including the unusual circumstances that surrounded Edward’s death, and for more photographs, click here
Researched and written by Gary Hynard 2025
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