Mexican–American War William Orlando Butler (April 19, 1791 – August 6, 1880) was a U.S. political figure and U.S. Army major general from Kentucky.

Born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, Butler studied law after graduating from Transylvania University.

He was General Zachary Taylor's second-in-command during the Battle of Monterrey and later succeeded Winfield Scott as the commander of American forces occupying Mexico City.

He attended the Peace Conference of 1861, which sought to defuse the secession crisis that arose following the 1860 presidential election.

The Indians poured such an intense fire on the fencerow that when it was over Butler found that his clothes were riddled with bullets.

He returned to Kentucky only to join the American forces that met the British and Indians at the Battle of the Thames in 1813.

Among the men under his command was future Florida governor Richard Keith Call, who would remain lifelong friends with Butler.

After the end of the War of 1812, Butler returned to Kentucky, resumed his legal studies, and attained admission to the bar.

In the general election, the ticket of Cass and Butler was defeated by Whig candidates Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.

[7] He was present at the peace conference of 1861, a gathering of political leaders that met in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to avert the impending American Civil War.

The Gen. William O. Butler House, his home in Carrollton, Kentucky, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.