Mother Joan de Beauchamp Name John 6th | Children James Ormond | |
Spouse(s) Reynalda O'Brien (mistress) Father James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond Role James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond's son Died December 14, 1476, Holy Land Parents Joan de Beauchamp, Countess of Ormond, James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond Grandparents Joan FitzAlan, Baroness Bergavenny Great-grandparents Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick People also search for James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond | ||
John Butler, 6th Earl of Ormond (died 14 December 1476) was considered one of the first gentlemen of the age in which he lived. He was an ambassador to the most important courts of Europe.
Contents
Family
John Butler, 6th Earl of Ormond was the second son of James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond, by his first wife, Joan de Beauchamp (d. 3 or 5 August 1430). He had an elder brother, James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormond, and a younger brother, Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond, as well as two sisters, Elizabeth Butler, who married John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury, and Anne Butler (d. 4 January 1435), who was contracted to marry Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond, although the marriage appears not to have taken place.
Career
He was restored to the earldom by Edward IV after having been attainted for his part in the Battle of Towton.
Edward IV is reported to have said that "if good breeding and liberal qualities were lost in the world, they might be all found in the Earl of Ormond". He was a complete master of the languages of Europe, and was sent as ambassador to its principal courts.
Marriage and children
Ellis says that 'according to family tradition, Ormond died unmarried in the Holy Land, on pilgrimage, before 15 June 1477, possibly on 14 December 1476'. By his mistress Reynalda O'Brien, daughter of Turlogh "The Brown" O'Brien, King of Thomond, he had three illegitimate sons:
He was succeeded by his younger brother, Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond.