Butcher, Samuel (1811–76), scholar and Church of Ireland bishop of Meath, the eldest son of Vice-Admiral Samuel Butcher and his wife, Elizabeth (née Herbert), of Cahirnane, Co. Kerry, was born at his father's home in Danesfort, Killarney, Co. Kerry. He was educated at home until about 1827, when he was enrolled at Dr Hamblin's and Dr Porter's school in Cork. He entered TCD in 1829, graduated (1834), became a fellow (1837) and successful tutor and lecturer in the college. In 1847 he married Mary Leahy of South Hill, Co. Kerry; they had two sons and four daughters. Made DD in 1849, he was appointed professor of ecclesiastical history in 1850, and regius professor of divinity in 1852, also holding a college living in Ballymoney, Co. Cork, from 1854.
In August 1866 he was appointed bishop of Meath, and was consecrated on 14 October. As bishop he was influential in promoting an endowment for the divinity school of TCD. Several of his sermons were published; he also edited the sermons of the Rev. Thomas MacNeice and the Rev. Alexander Pollack for publication. His best-known work, The theory and construction of the ecclesiastical calendar, revised by his sons Samuel Henry (qv) and J. G. Butcher, appeared posthumously in 1877. He died 29 July 1876, at his episcopal residence, Ardbraccan House, Co. Meath, having taken his own life, owing to temporary insanity while ill with congestion of the lungs. He is buried in Ardbraccan.