Smedley Butler

Smedley Darlington Butler
Butler in uniform, c. 1929
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/branch	Marine Corps
Years of service	1898–1931
Rank	Major general
Commands held	3d Battalion, 1st Marines 13th Marines Marine Barracks, Quantico Marine Corps Base, San Diego 3rd Marine Brigade Marine Barracks, Quantico
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Battle of Noveleta Boxer Rebellion Battle of Tientsin (WIA) Battle of San Tan Pating Banana Wars Battle of Masaya Siege of Granada, Nicaragua Battle of Coyotepe Hill Infiltration of Mexico City Battle of Fort Dipitie Battle of Fort Rivière Mexican Revolution Battle of Veracruz World War I Defensive Sector
Awards	Medal of Honor (2) Marine Corps Brevet Medal Military Medal (Haiti) Commander of the Order of the Black Star (France) See more
Relations	Smedley Darlington (grandfather) Samuel Butler (grandfather) Thomas S. Butler (father) Isabel Darlington (aunt)
Other work	Activist, official, lecturer, writer
Director of Public Safety for Philadelphia
In office January 7, 1924 – December 23, 1925

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.

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.