2 Annotations

First Reading

Dr. Bunny Paine-Clemes  •  Link

Lord John Butler (1643-1647), the seventh son of the first Duke of Ormond, was a serious suitor for the hand of Betty Mallet when he was in his twenty-second and twenty-third year. He left Ireland to come to London in the spring of 1665, when she was visiting there with her guardians; and it may safely be presumed he came to court her. In May of that year Lord Rochester abducted her from her guardians but was thrown into the Tower. In July of that year the Duke of Ormond sent an emissary, one Nicholls, to the West Country to arrange a marriage match between Betty and Lord John. Graham Greene, who narrates the story, based on an account in the Diary, said that the lady begged to see in a letter that Lord John had written and had "a deal of wit, and affection for the Lord John." Betty's mother and stepfather, in the absence of her grandfather Lord Hawley, said they would not be "circumvented" and refused to let the Lord John come to Somerset to court Betty. As the entry on February 4, 1667, shows, she ended by marrying Rochester, and his many biographers speculate about when she fell in love with him or he, with her. That they were in love when they married is not in doubt. Lord Butler may have been carrying a torch most of his young life: he didn't marry until 1676 and died shortly thereafter, having been just created Earl of Gowan.

Third Reading

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

John Butler, Earl of Gowran:

During the one Irish Parliament held in the reign of Charles II (1661–1666), he sat in the Irish House of Commons as the member for Trinity College.

Lord John Butler was created Baron Aghrim, Viscount Clonmore and Earl of Gowran, all in the Peerage of Ireland, on 13 April, 1676.

He had married Lady Anne Chichester, only daughter of Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall the previous January.

He travelled to Paris for the recovery of his health but died there in August 1677 aged about 34.

John Butler, Earl of Gowran left no issue, and his titles died with him.
https://ancestorium.com/tng/getpe…

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References

Chart showing the number of references in each month of the diary’s entries.

1666

1667

  • Feb