Butler, James, 2nd Duke of Ormonde (1665 -1745)

James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde, was born 29 April 1665, the grandson of James Butler, 1st Duke, being the elder son of Thomas Earl of Ossory and Lady Amelia de Nassau, eldest daughter of Henry de Nassau, Lord of Auverquerque. He was appointed Lord of the Bedchamber in 1685, served in the army, and was at the battle of Sedgemoor, when the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion was put down. He was one of the first to join the standard of the Prince of Orange, and was made a Knight of the Garter and High Constable of England at his coronation. He was Commander in Chief of the land forces in 1702, and from 1711-1713 was the Captain General of the land forces in Great Britain, but after the accession of George I, he was impeached for High Treason, and having retired to France was attainted of all his honours. However, his brother the Earl of Arran was allowed to purchase his estate. He died in France on 16 November 1745. He married twice, but none of his children, three daughters, had issue. His Irish titles passed to his brother. The inescutcheon of pretence has the arms of his grandmother Elizabeth Baron Dingwall in her own right, daughter and heir of Richard Preston, Earl of Desmond and Lord Dingwall, which shows that stamp 2 was not cut for the 2nd Duke. It is in fact stamp 3 of those cut for his grandfather the 1st Duke.