William Butler (December 17, 1759 – November 15, 1821) was an American soldier, planter, slaveholder and United States representative from South Carolina.

[1] Born in Prince William County in the Colony of Virginia, he moved to South Carolina as a young man.

He served in the Snow Campaign under Colonel Richard Richardson in 1775 and in Gen. Andrew Williamson's expedition against the Cherokee Indians in 1776.

In 1779 he was a lieutenant in Pulaski's Legion, under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, and served under Gen. Andrew Pickens at the siege of Augusta in 1780.

He was sheriff of the Ninety-Six District in 1791, and was elected major general of the upper division of State militia in 1796.