Judge Ed Butler

Judge Ed Butler was a Ford Foundation Scholar at Vanderbilt University School of Law, where he graduated with honors. For many years he was a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney by both the Texas and National Boards. He is a retired federal judge; retired Naval Intelligence Commander; & former law school professor. His honors include the DAR Medal of Honor, SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal, and he was selected to the Texas Genealogical Hall of Fame. He's listed in Who's Who in America & Who's Who in the World.

He is a world traveler who has visited over 200 countries. In 1997-98 he and his wife traveled around the world for 14 months. It took two years of planning to stitch together an exciting trip including around-the-world air, train passes, tours, cruises, and independent travel. In 2003 they did it again in the opposite direction. He has written four books about travel, two law books, four on family history and two history books.

In 2009-2010, he had the honor of serving as President General of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution, and through research and writing he has become an expert about the Spanish in the American Revolutionary War.

In 2010, following a private audience with HRM Felipe VI de Borbon, King of Spain, he asked Judge Butler to write a book about Spain's assistance to the U.S. during the American Revolutionary War. That book has now won five awards and a TV documentary is planned.

Destination Presentations (area or relative countries)
1. Introduction to the Vikings (Scandinavia)
2. The Viking Crusade (Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Jerusalem, Syria)
3. Vikings Seek to Settle in England, Ireland and Scotland (Scandinavia, Great Britain)
4. Karl Ragnar Nordbrook and the Viking Sieges on Paris (Scandinavia & France)
5. ollo, Viking Duke of Normandy, and his Impact on France & England.
6. Vikings - Ancestors of William the Conqueror - Conqueror of Great Britain
7. Viking Raids on the Spanish Peninsula and North Africa
8. Viking Exploration of Eastern Europe, Russia & The Black and Caspian Seas
9. Eric the Red & Viking Exploration of the North Atlantic, and Greenland
10. Leif Erickson and the Northmen's Exploration of Iceland and North America
11. Viking Navigation - the Magic Sunstone

Entertainment:
1. Origin of Ancient Sayings and Customs

Extraordinary Lives (Historical Figures):
1. William The Conqueror, a Viking Bastard
2. Charlemagne, The Bright Star of the Dark Ages
3. Jacques de Molay, From Templar to Mason
4. Ferdinand & Isabella & The Spanish Empire
5. Capt. John Paul Jones, Daring Raider on England
6. Alexander the Great, The Man Who Spread Blue Eyes Throughout Asia
7. King Carlos III of Spain, America's Best Friend in the American Revolution.
8. Gen. Bernardo de Galvez, George Washington's Secret Ally
9. Ferdinand, The Portuguese Navigator
10. Alfred The Great, England's Best King Until William The Conqueror
11. King Edward I, The First, Hammer of the Scots
12. King David of Scotland - Why Aren't All Kings Saints?

History:
European History:
* Spain through the 17th Century
* Spain During the 18th Century
* The Crusades
* Knights Templars (from Western Europe)
* European and Mediterranean Pirates
* William the Conqueror, a Viking Bastard (Norway, Normandy, England)
* Accomplishments of Charlemagne, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Netherlands, Belgium, Corsica and the Balearic Islands).
* Spain under the Moors
* Spain as an Ally During the American Revolutionary War (Spain, France, England, Gibraltar, American Colonies, Central America, Balearic Islands, Philippines).
* France as an Ally During the American Revolutionary War (Spain, France, England, American Colonies).
* Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin – Ambassadors to the French Court.
* Sinking of the Spanish Armada & Taking of Cadiz. (Spain, England, Scotland, Ireland).
* Ferdinand and Isabella sponsor Columbus
* The Long Reach of the Knights Templars
* Friday, October 13, 1307 – A Very Unlucky Day for the Knights Templars (France)
* What Happened to the Knights Templars? Were They the First Masons? Did They Become Swiss Bankers? (France, Scotland, Spain, Portugal & Switzerland)
1* Portuguese & Spanish Templars become Knights of Christ
John Paul Jones and his raids on English port cities (American Colonies, England, Spain).

American History:
* Origins of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights

American Revolutionary War:
1. Spain as an Ally During the American Revolutionary War (Spain, France, England, Gibraltar, American Colonies, Central America, Balearic Islands, Philippines).
2. France as an Ally During the American Revolutionary War (Spain, France, England, American Colonies).
3. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin – Ambassadors to the French Court.
4. Causes and events leading up to the war
5. Northern Campaign
6. Montreal and Quebec
7. Southern Campaign
8. France’s Assistance
9. Spain’s Assistance
10. The Netherlands and Sweden
11. The Texas Connection
12. Gen. George Rogers Clark and the Western Frontier
13. Westward Migration
14. Louisiana Purchase
15. Lewis and Clark
18. Civil War
19. Kentucky: Before, During and After the War For Southern Independence

World War II
1. The Man Who Never Was
2. North Africa Campaign
3. Sicily, Malta, and Italy
4. The Normandy Invasion
5. Japan invades China
6. Pearl Harbor
7. Japan’s conquest of South East Asia
8. Australia, the Solomon Islands, and New Guinea
9. Battle of the Coral Sea
10. McArthur Returns to the Philippines

Caribbean:
1. Pirates on the Spanish Main (Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Caribbean).

General Interest/Humor
* Family Names
* Original of Ancient Sayings & Customs
* Origins of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights

Genealogy and Genealogical Research (How to trace your family tree):
* Preparing an Effective Research Guide
* Genealogical Evidence and Sources
* Family Names
* Researching your Ancestors
* Internet Research & Junk Genealogy
* US Census
* Deeds and Surveys
* Military Records & Military Retirement Records
* Family Histories
* City and County History Books
* Birth, Marriage and Death Records
* Ancestry.com
* Genealogy.com
* Footnote.com

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.