He commanded a regiment, Thomas Butler's foot, during the Williamite War and fought at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691 where he was taken captive.

Thomas was probably born at Garryricken, near Callan, County Kilkenny, as the eldest son of Walter Butler and his wife Mary Plunkett.

[2] Thomas's mother was the only daughter of Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall.

[23] He fought for James II during the Williamite War in Ireland, being the colonel of an infantry regiment, known as "Thomas Butler's Foot".

Thomas and Margaret had three sons: —and five daughters: His father, Walter of Garryricken, died in 1700;[35] his grandfather, Richard of Kilcash, followed in 1701.