Somerset Richard Butler, 3rd Earl of Carrick was the son of Henry Thomas Butler, 2nd Earl of Carrick and Sarah Taylor. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Earl of Carrick and 10th Viscount Ikerrin upon his father's death on 20 July 1813. He was married twice, first on 1 September 1811 to Anne Wynne, daughter of Owen Wynne and Lady Sarah Cole. They had two children. He married secondly on 12 February 1833 Lucy French, third daughter of Arthur French, Esquire. They had three children.