James Butler Ormond, duke of, lord lieutenant of Ireland, born in London in 1010, died at Kingston hall in Dorsetshire, July 21, 1088. He was educated by Archbishop Abbot as a ward of King James, and in 1632 succeeded his grandfather as earl of Ormond. When the Irish rebellion broke out in 1640 he was chosen commander of the royal troops, and repeatedly repulsed the rebels. Being ill supported, he was forced to make terms of peace which created much dissatisfaction in England; yet he was created marquis and made lord lieutenant of Ireland in 1644. After the success of the parliamentary party, he resigned his office and retired to France. Returning to Ireland, he attempted to restore the royal power, caused Charles II. to be proclaimed, and made an unsuccessful effort to capture Dublin. After the restoration he was raised to a dukedom. He was again appointed lord lieutenant of Ireland in 1662, and held the office seven years. In 1670, while riding in his carriage in London, he came near being assassinated by the notorious Col. Blood and five accomplices. (See Blood, Thomas.) He was again lord lieutenant of Ireland from 1676 to 1685. He survived his son, " the gallant" earl of Ossory, eight years.

Ormond's life and the history of his Irish administration was written by Thomas Carte (3 vols, fol., London, 1735-6; new ed., 6 vols. 8vo, Oxford, 1851).