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- BIOGRAPHY
Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormonde, was born circa 1467, the son of Sir James Butler, of Polestown, and Sabh Kavanagh.
About 1485 Piers Butler married Lady Margaret FitzGerald, daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, and Alison FitzEustace.
'The Red Piers' was cousin and heir of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormonde. On 20 March 1489 King Henry VII appointed him Sheriff of Kilkenny. Apparently he had been appointed to the same position in 1487 by the pretender Lambert Simnel.
Before 7 September 1497 Piers Butler was knighted and on 28 February 1498 received a pardon for his crimes committed in Ireland. His cousin, the 7th Earl of Ormonde, made him Seneschal of the Liberty of Tipperary on 21 June 1505; the Earl further granted him many lands, rents, services and manors in Ireland.
On 28 July 1506 the king granted him two parts of the prise of wines in Limerick. The 7th Earl died on 3 August 1515 and Piers Butler became the 8th Earl of Ormonde. On 6 March 1522 the King appointed him Chief Governor of Ireland as Lord Deputy; he held this office until 13 May 1524 when he became Lord Treasurer.
As the king wanted the Earldom of Ormonde for Thomas Boleyn, he induced Piers and his coheirs to resign their claims on 18 February 1528. On 23 February 1528 King Henry VIII created Piers Earl of Ossory. From 1528 until 1529 he was again Lord Deputy of Ireland. On 23 October 1537 the Irish estates of the 7th Earl of Ormonde's coheirs, which had been forfeited, were granted to Piers Butler; and on 22 February 1538 the Earldom of Ormonde was restored to him. However, he died on 26 August 1539 and was buried in the church of St.Canice, Kilkenny.
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