1. Butler Ames was an American politician, engineer, soldier and businessman.
10 Facts About Butler Ames
1. 2.
Butler Ames was the son of Adelbert Ames and grandson of Benjamin Franklin Butler, both decorated generals in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
3.
Butler Ames resigned from the United States Army after appointment as second lieutenant to the Eleventh Regiment, United States Infantry; took a postgraduate course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was a member of Theta Xi fraternity, and graduated in 1896 as a mechanical and electrical engineer.
4.
Butler Ames was promoted to lieutenant colonel in August 1898; served as civil administrator of the Arecibo district of Puerto Rico until November 1898.
5.
Butler Ames was completely taken with Villa del Balbianello when he visited Europe for the first time in 1911, and he determined to purchase the Villa.
6.
Butler Ames almost lost the Villa to Prince Eithel-Friedrich, the Kaiser's youngest son, in 1914.
7.
Butler Ames won his battle in 1919, beautifully restoring the Villa.
8.
Butler Ames died in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, in 1954, at the age of 83.
9.
Butler Ames is buried, along with his father, grandfather and extended family, in the Hildreth family cemetery, behind the main cemetery on Hildreth Street in Lowell.
10.
Butler Ames's heirs sold Villa del Balbianello in 1974 to Guido Monzino.