Pierce Butler was an American statesman and a Founding Father of the United States. Born in 1744 in Ireland, he moved to South Carolina, where he became a prominent plantation owner and politician. Butler played a significant role in the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787, representing South Carolina at the Constitutional Convention. As a delegate, Butler was a strong advocate for the interests of slaveholding states, supporting the continuation of slavery in the new nation. He later served as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina from 1790 to 1796. His contributions to early American governance are notable, particularly regarding issues of federalism and state rights.