Butler is "The butler did it!" The best-known fictional manservant, and the archetype of the quintessential British butler, is himself not a butler at all. Reginald Jeeves, the iconic creation of author P. G. Wodehouse is a "gentleman's gentleman" and general factotum. Probably the best-known fictional butlers are Alfred from the "Batman" comic and films; Hudson of Upstairs, Downstairs television fame; Mr Carson from the Downton Abbey television series; and Crichton from J. M. Barrie's "The Admirable Crichton". Lesser-knowns include Mr. Belvedere from the novel "Belvedere", which was adapted into a feature film with sequels and later a television series; Lurch,
Alfred Butler eventually rising to the rank of Captain. While a temporary Second Lieutenant, he was awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads: At the age of 17, Butler became a clerk to Henry Burke, then Somerset Herald. In 1919, on Burke's promotion to Garter Principal King of Arms, Butler became his secretary, and continued in this post until Burke's death in 1930. Burke specialised in genealogy, and Butler learned a lot from him, eventually being regarded as the foremost genealogist of his generation. During this time Butler also edited Burke's Peerage, from 1922 – 1926. Butler became an officer of arms