British Fleet Admiral. He joined the British Royal Navy in 1740 at the age of 14, serving on board the HMS Severn. He fought in several West Indies engagements during his early naval career, opposing French and Spanish naval forces while commander of the HMS Triton, and later as the captain of the HMS Cornwall, fighting against the Spanish armada off the coast of Havana, Cuba. In 1762 he was elected to the House of Commons, serving as a member of Parliament for the district of Dartmouth, before ascending to the House of Lords. From 1763 to 1765 he served on the admiralty board, and from 1765 to 1770 as treasurer of the navy. In 1770 he was appointed to the rank of rear admiral, and in 1775 he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral. Early the following year he was assigned to the American colonies. Sympathetic to the American colonialists, he was placed in charge of a delegation hoping to avoid a potential conflict with Great Britain, while attempting to negotiate a peaceful reconciliation. Unsuccessful in his attempts, and thwarted by the unreasonable demands of the British Government, he was forced to take up arms against the American colonialists following the colonial declaration of independence, followed by the French declaration of war against Great Britain. In addition to fighting in the American War of Independence, he also fought in the French Revolutionary War, the Seven Years War, and the War of Austrian Succession. He was the brother of General William Howe, and a direct line ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer, Prince William and Prince Harry, the latter two second and third respectively in line to the British throne. Cape Howe on New South Wales, Australia, Howe Sound in British Columbia, Canada, and Lord Howe Island located off the east coast of Australia are all named in his honor. A monument honoring Admiral Howe is located in St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England.
British Fleet Admiral. He joined the British Royal Navy in 1740 at the age of 14, serving on board the HMS Severn. He fought in several West Indies engagements during his early naval career, opposing French and Spanish naval forces while commander of the HMS Triton, and later as the captain of the HMS Cornwall, fighting against the Spanish armada off the coast of Havana, Cuba. In 1762 he was elected to the House of Commons, serving as a member of Parliament for the district of Dartmouth, before ascending to the House of Lords. From 1763 to 1765 he served on the admiralty board, and from 1765 to 1770 as treasurer of the navy. In 1770 he was appointed to the rank of rear admiral, and in 1775 he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral. Early the following year he was assigned to the American colonies. Sympathetic to the American colonialists, he was placed in charge of a delegation hoping to avoid a potential conflict with Great Britain, while attempting to negotiate a peaceful reconciliation. Unsuccessful in his attempts, and thwarted by the unreasonable demands of the British Government, he was forced to take up arms against the American colonialists following the colonial declaration of independence, followed by the French declaration of war against Great Britain. In addition to fighting in the American War of Independence, he also fought in the French Revolutionary War, the Seven Years War, and the War of Austrian Succession. He was the brother of General William Howe, and a direct line ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer, Prince William and Prince Harry, the latter two second and third respectively in line to the British throne. Cape Howe on New South Wales, Australia, Howe Sound in British Columbia, Canada, and Lord Howe Island located off the east coast of Australia are all named in his honor. A monument honoring Admiral Howe is located in St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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Aged 74 years
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