Admiral Sir Thomas Button was buried at St Margaret's church Westminster on 8th April 1634 but he has no inscribed gravestone remaining, or any memorial.
He was born in about 1575, a son of Miles Button, a magistrate in Glamorgan, south Wales, and his wife Margaret (Lewis). His brothers Sir William (c.1570-1625) and James (died about 1649), were both Members of Parliament. He began his career as a soldier. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Rice and he benefited from the patronage of her relative Sir Robert Mansell (Mansel). He then captained a ship conveying munitions and stores from Dublin to forces besieging Kinsale and he successfully blockaded the harbour there. Later he served in the West Indies and then took part in an expedition to try and discover the north west passage. He commanded two ships, the Discovery and the Resolution. In 1614 he was made an admiral on the Irish station, to rid the seas of pirates, and he was knighted in 1616. He was plagued by ill health and financial difficulties during his life and he died intestate. He was survived by five of his seven children and his lands went to son Miles.
His wife was buried in St Margaret's on 4th May 1637.
Further reading
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
see www.historyofparliamentonline.org for his brothers
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