He was the son of Medad Butler and Hannah Butler, of Kinderhook Landing, in Columbia County, New York. He studied at Hudson Academy in Hudson, New York, and read law with Martin Van Buren, whose son John Van Buren later read law with Butler. Butler was admitted to the bar in 1817, and became Martin Van Buren's partner. In his 1903 book The Art of Cross-Examination, author Francis L. Wellman indicated that Butler was regarded during his life as a highly effective trial lawyer, and one of the most successful cross-examiners of his day.
Political career
Butler was one of the earliest members of the Albany Regency. When fellow Regency member and Van Buren ally Roger Skinner was appointed Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in 1819, he sold his law office to Butler, who took over Skinner's clients and pending cases. Butler began his political career as district attorney of Albany County, serving from 1821 to 1825. He was appointed one of the three commissioners to revise the State statutes in 1825. Butler was a member from Albany County of the New York State Assembly in 1828. In 1833, he served as commissioner for New York to adjust the New Jersey boundary line. On November 15, 1833, President Andrew Jackson appointed Butler Attorney General, an office he held until 1838. From that year until 1841, and from 1845 to 1848, he was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He was a prominent participant in the 1844 Democratic National Convention. As one of the leaders of the New York delegation he supported the candidacy of Martin Van Buren and opposed the 2/3 rule for nominating, but failed in both cases. In the end he was the one to announce that the New York delegation would switch to eventual winner James K. Polk. Van Buren recommended Butler to Polk for a cabinet position, but told Polk that he was loath to leave his lucrative law practice and so would not agree unless offered the office of Secretary of State. Polk ended up offering him Secretary of War, but Butler declined, stating that he would only accept State or Treasury.
Legacy
Butler was a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1829 to 1832. He was instrumental in founding New York University in 1831 and served in various capacities with the university from its inception. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Rutgers University in 1834. He was appointed principal professor of New York University in 1837.
