John Butler was born in Virginia in about 1728. A resident of Orange County, North Carolina, he served as the local sheriff during the War of Regulation. Later he served as a delegate to the state's 4th and 5th provincial congress, and also served several terms in the State House (1777, 1778, and 1784), State Senate (1781) and Council of State (1781-1782). Aside from his political career, he also served as a lt. colonel in the Orange County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia from 1775-1776 before being promoted to full colonel. In 1777 he became a brigadier general in the Hillsborough District Brigade of the North Carolina State Troops, and he led men in several battles including the Battle of Camden, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, and the Battle of Lindley's Mill. He died in the fall of 1786.