Norman Frank Butler

Early life

Norman Butler was born to industrialist Paul Butler and Sarah Anne Rooney of Co. Mayo, Ireland. His grandfather Frank Osgood Butler and father Paul Butler were prominent American industrialists and founders of Oak Brook Village, Illinois. He was born in New York City in 1918. He attended Hodder preparatory school and Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, England. He later studied Modern Greats at Oriel College, Oxford University.

In 1941 he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as a bomber pilot in the South Atlantic attached to squadron VB-107.

In 1948 he married Pauline Winn, daughter of Lady Baillie and Charles Frederick Winn, of Leeds Castle in Kent. They had two children together, Sandra Butler (born 1949) and Paget Butler (born 1953). They divorced in 1958.

From 1948 until 1960 he worked as a director in the Butler Paper and Butler Aviation companies, and Butler S.A. (South America).

It was also during this time that he played polo in the United States, England and South America.

In 1959 he married his second wife Penelope Dewar, daughter of Lord Forteviot, owner of Dewar Whiskies in Scotland. They had three children together, Paul Butler (born 1960), Tiggy Butler (born 1961) and Sean Butler (born 1963). They divorced in 1977.

In 1981 he married his third wife Baroness Gabriella Groger von Sonntag, fashion editor of German Vogue, daughter of Kurt Groger, a German banker and Director of the Dresdner Bank. They had one son, Patrick de Butler (born 1986).

Thoroughbred racing

In 1960 he bought Kilboy Estate in County Tipperary, Ireland. As a Thoroughbred breeder in 1972 he won the classic Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Irish St. Leger with his famous horse Pidget, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by the jockey T. P. Burns. He also worked with Vincent O'Brien and Walter Swinburn among many others during his time as a Thoroughbred breeder.