Butler, Smedley D (Darlington) (1881-1940)

US marine officer. He fought in the Far East, Central America, and the Caribbean for more than 20 years, but missed combat in World War I. Later he became a prominent isolationist spokesperson.

He was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, a member of a distinguished Quaker family. He caused a diplomatic incident in 1931 when he claimed the Italian dictator Mussolini had killed a child in a hit-and-run accident. He was known in the Corps as ‘Old Gimlet Eye’. He retired in October 1931.