Butcher was born in
Cople, Bedfordshire, the son of Thomas Butcher of
Northampton, and Elizabeth Ives, and was the grandson of Robert Butcher of
Ickleford,
Hertfordshire,
Lord of the Manor of
Ravensden, and
high sheriff of
Bedfordshire in 1761. He entered the Navy on 4 February 1786, as captain's servant on board the cutter , under the command of his relative Lieutenant Robert Barlow, employed in suppressing smuggling in the English Channel. From November 1788 Butcher served as an
able seaman in , the flagship of Admiral
Mark Milbanke at
Newfoundland. In June 1791 Butcher rejoined Barlow as a
master's mate in the 16-gun
brig-sloop , attached to the
Channel Fleet. He later served in the 98-gun ship , bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral
Alan Gardner, and was present at the unsuccessful first attempt to capture
Martinique in 1793. He also took part, under Admiral
Lord Howe, in the
actions of 28 and 29 May, and 1 June 1794, on the two last days with the rank of acting-lieutenant. For these and other services Butcher was promoted to
post-rank on 29 April 1802, during the
Peace of Amiens. • On 23 October 1813 and
Antelope recaptured the
Alida. • On 24 October 1813
Antelope and
Bruizer captured the Danish privateer
Eleonora. then to vice-admiral on 19 February 1847. He died at
Cobh,
County Cork, on 8 May 1849, and was interred in the family vault at St. Mary's,
Shandon, Cork. ==Personal life==