Butler would also variously serve as Speaker of the House of Assembly (1921–1924), and as a minister under Premiers Charles Kingston, John Jenkins and Archibald Peake.

They emigrated with their two children Mary and Richard to South Australia, arriving in Adelaide on 8 March 1854, following Richard père's brother Philip, who emigrated fourteen years earlier, made a fortune as a pastoralist and landowner, established Mallala sheep station, and built a two-storey homestead on his property Yattalunga station (also spelled "Yatalunga"), near Gawler, then returned to England in December 1857.

[a] Young Richard was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide, then spent many years as a farmer and grazier.

[1] Butler became the parliamentary leader of an informal group of country members supported by the Farmers and Producers Political Union in 1904.

The report of another royal commission presented some 14 months later was, however, accepted as clearing him of guilt; also the fact that he was elected Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly in 1921 suggests there had been injustice.

[b] in running sheep on a large property in the Hundred of Munno Para and at Mudla Wirra; leased "Mallala" inc. Gawler; married Matilda Roe on 13 September 1849.

He built a large two-storey house on his property "Yattalunga" (frequently "Yatalunga"), later occupied by his brother Richard.

He married again to Margaret Chesshyre on 2 July 1863, returned to South Australia briefly then retired to England.