Smedley Butler
United States Marine Corps general (1881–1940) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Major General Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940), nicknamed the Maverick Marine, was a senior United States Marine Corps officer. During his 34-year career, he fought in the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Mexican Revolution, World War I, and the Banana Wars. At the time of his death, Butler was the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. By the end of his career, Butler had received sixteen medals, including five for heroism; he is the only Marine to be awarded the Brevet Medal as well as two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.
Smedley Darlington Butler | |
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Birth name | Smedley Darlington Butler |
Nickname(s) | "Old Gimlet Eye", "The Fighting Quaker", "Fighting Hell-Devil" |
Born | (1881-07-30)July 30, 1881 West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | June 21, 1940(1940-06-21) (aged 58) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1898–1931 |
Rank | Major general |
Commands held | |
Battles/wars | |
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Relations |
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Other work | Activist, official, lecturer, writer |
Director of Public Safety for Philadelphia | |
In office January 7, 1924 – December 23, 1925 | |
In 1933, he became involved in a controversy known as the Business Plot, when he told a congressional committee that a group of wealthy industrialists were planning a military coup to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with Butler selected to lead a march of veterans to become dictator, similar to fascist regimes at that time. The individuals involved all denied the existence of a plot and the media ridiculed the allegations, but a final report by a special House of Representatives Committee confirmed some of Butler's testimony.
Butler later became an outspoken critic of American wars and their consequences. In 1935, Butler wrote the book War Is a Racket, where he alleged imperialist motivations for U.S. foreign policy and wars (such as those in which he had been involved). After retiring from service, he became a popular advocate, speaking at meetings organized by veterans, pacifists, and church groups in the 1930s.