Smedley Butler

Date of Birth: July 30, 1881

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: June 21, 1940

Biography

Smedley Darlington Butler, often known by his nickname “Old Gimlet Eye,” was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps Major General, the highest rank authorized at his time of service. Born on July 30, 1881, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Butler came from a prominent family with a long military tradition. He served in the Marine Corps for 34 years, from 1898 to 1931, and was awarded two Medals of Honor, one for his actions during the Veracruz Expedition and another for his service in Haiti. Butler also received several other decorations for his military service, including the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal. After retiring from the military, Butler became an outspoken critic of U.S. military interventions and corporate profiteering from war. He is best known for his book “War is a Racket,” in which he argued that war primarily serves the interests of the wealthy elite. Throughout his life, Butler was a controversial yet influential figure, whose views on American imperialism and military-industrial complex remain relevant today.

5 Interesting Facts about Smedley Butler

1. Smedley Butler is one of the most decorated Marines in U.S. history, having received 16 medals, five of which were for heroism.

2. Butler was involved in several major military actions, including the Boxer Rebellion, the Banana Wars, and World War I.

3. He was awarded the Marine Corps Brevet Medal, which was the highest Marine Corps honor at the time before the Medal of Honor was created.

4. After retiring, Butler ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania on the Prohibition Party ticket.

5. Butler played a significant role in exposing the Business Plot, an alleged conspiracy to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Smedley Butler

1. “War is a racket. It always has been.”

2. “There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.”

3. “I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers.”

4. “I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in.”

5. “I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Smedley Butler’s net worth is not well-documented, but as a career military officer and later a public speaker and author, his wealth was modest compared to contemporary business leaders.