The Forgotten Hero Who ALMOST Stopped the Boer War

General Sir William Butler, came close to preventing the Boer War. How the history of South Africa and the British Empire might have been different if he had. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Love British History? GET MY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER https://www.thehistorychap.com/Newsle... WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY CHANNEL Become A Patron and get exclusive history talks https://www.thehistorychap.com/Suppor... Make a one-off donation https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistorychap Linked videos The Ashanti Ring    • Sir Garnet Wolseley's Ashanti Ring Uncovered   The Boer War    • The Boer War, South Africa 1899-1902:  Sum...   The Nile Expedition to Rescue Charles Gordon in Khartoum    • The Nile Expedition & The Failed Attempt T...   The Red River Expedition - Riel Rebellion (Canada)    • The Red River Expedition 1870 | Wolseley's...   General Sir William Butler, was an enigmatic member of Sir Garnet Wolseley’s Ashanti Ring of officers in the British Army during the late 19th century. Married to one of the most famous artists of the day, he served in Wolseley’s Red River campaign in Canada, the Ashanti War in West Africa, the Zulu War, Wolseley’s Egyptian campaign and the Nile Expedition to save General Charles Gordon in Khartoum. An organiser, who fell in love with the remote wilds of Canada and was instrumental in the formation of the North West Mounted Police. Butler, was also an accomplished writer and historian. So, a thinking general in the Victorian British army. And yet, despite being part of Queen Victoria’s army as it painted large parts of the globe British red, he was also a passionate supporter of Irish Home Rule and of Boer Independence in South Africa. And for a moment in 1898/99 he might have been the man to take on the imperialists such as Lord Milner, Cecil Rhodes & Joseph Chamberlain and prevent the Boer War from starting. Get My FREE Weekly Newsletter https://www.thehistorychap.com General Sir William Butler - Timeline of his life 1838 Born, Ireland 1858 Joins British army (69th Regiment of Foot) Served in 2nd Anglo-Burmese War 1867 Stationed in Channel Islands (meets Victor Hugo) 1868 Sent to Canada (Fennian Invasions) 1870 Red River Expedition 1872 Published "The Great Lone Land" 1873 2nd Ashanti War 1877 Married Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Elizabeth Butler) 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War (Battles of Kassassin & Tel el Kebir) 1884 Gordon Relief Expedition (Nile Expedition) 1898 C-in-C South Africa 1905 Retired 1910 Died Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:42 Early Life 2:09 Joins Army 4:02 Canada 6:57 Ashanti Ring 8:21 Lady Elizabeth Butler 9:19 Egypt 9:58 Gordon Relief Exepdition 12:35 Irish Home Rule 13:25 C-in-C South Africa 16:37 Clashes with Milner 18:14 Nearly Averts Boer War 19:30 Proved Correct 20:51 Retirement 21:52 The Thinking General Follow me at: www.thehistorychap.com Instagram:https://bit.ly/3iySrAj Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH    / thehistorychap   My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today. History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens. So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life. My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!" Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham. Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel. The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)