W. (William) Butt

Remembered today as W. Butt, he is chiefly associated with The Theory and Practice of Archery, the well-known work originally written by Horace A. Ford. In the 1887 edition, Butt thoroughly revised and reworked the book, helping preserve an important text in the history of modern archery.

Sources available online connect him with Corney Bury in Layston, Hertfordshire, and give his lifespan as 1826 to 1911. The preface to the revised edition also notes that he had been secretary of the Royal Toxophilite Society for many years, which helps explain his authority on the subject and his close connection to archery culture of the period.

Very little biographical detail beyond that was confirmed in the material I found, but the outline is still appealing: a country gentleman, long involved in one of Britain’s best-known archery societies, who helped update a foundational sporting book rather than simply letting it fade from view.