The Earl Howe | |
|---|---|
 1794 portrait of Howe byJohn Singleton Copley | |
| Born | (1726-03-08)8 March 1726 London, England |
| Died | 5 August 1799(1799-08-05) (aged 73) London, England |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1740–1799 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | |
| Spouse | |
Admiral of the FleetRichard Howe, 1st Earl Howe (8 March 1726 – 5 August 1799) was aRoyal Navy officer and politician. After serving in theWar of the Austrian Succession, he gained a reputation for his role inamphibious operations against the French coast as part of Britain's policy ofnaval descents during theSeven Years' War. He also took part, as a naval captain, in the decisive British naval victory at theBattle of Quiberon Bay in November 1759.
In North America, Howe is best known for his service during theAmerican War of Independence, when he acted as a naval commander and a peace commissioner with the American rebels; he also conducted a successful relief during theGreat Siege of Gibraltar in the later stages of the War. Howe later commanded the victorious British fleet during theGlorious First of June in June 1794 during theFrench Revolutionary Wars.
Howe was born inAlbemarle Street, London, the second son ofEmanuel Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe, who died asgovernor of Barbados in March 1735, and ofCharlotte, a daughter ofBaroness von Kielmansegg, afterwardsCountess of Darlington, the half-sister of KingGeorge I.[1]
After education atEton College, Richard Howe entered the navy in thefifth-rateHMS Pearl in July 1739.[2] He then transferred to thefourth-rateHMS Severn, one of the squadron sent into the south seas with AdmiralGeorge Anson in 1740.[2]Severn sailed toCape Horn and then, after encountering storms, returned home in Spring 1742.[2] Howe next served in theWest Indies aboard thethird-rateHMS Burford and was present when she was severely damaged in the unsuccessful attack onLa Guaira in February 1743 during theWar of the Austrian Succession.[2] He transferred to the third-rateHMS Suffolk,flagship of AdmiralSir Charles Knowles, Commander-in-Chief in the West Indies, in March 1743 and then to thefifth-rateHMS Eltham in July 1743, before being promoted tomidshipman on 8 October 1743 and returning to HMSSuffolk later that month.[2] Promoted tolieutenant on 25 May 1744, he joined thebomb vesselHMS Comet and then transferred to thefirst-rateHMSRoyal George, flagship of AdmiralEdward Vernon, in August 1745.[2]
Promoted tocommander on 5 November 1745, Howe was commanding officer of thesloopHMS Baltimore in theNorth Sea during theJacobite rising of 1745 and was severely wounded in the head while cooperating with a frigate in an engagement with two Frenchprivateers.[2] Promoted topost-captain on 10 April 1746, he was given command of thesixth-rateHMS Triton and took part in convoy duties offLisbon.[2] He transferred to the command of the fourth-rateHMS Rippon in Summer 1747 and sailed to the West Indies before becoming Flag Captain to Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica, in the third-rateHMS Cornwall in October 1748.[2] He was given command of the fifth-rateHMS Glory off the coast of West Africa in March 1751 and then transferred to the command of the sixth-rateHMS Dolphin in theMediterranean Fleet in June 1752.[3]
In January 1755, Howe was given command of the fourth-rateHMS Dunkirk and was sent to North America as part of a squadron commanded by AdmiralEdward Boscawen:his capture of the FrenchAlcide was the first shot fired in theSeven Years' War.[3] He was electedmember of parliament forDartmouth in May 1757 and became commanding officer of the third-rateHMS Magnanime in the Channel in July 1757.[3] From then until the peace of 1763, he served in the Channel in various more or less futile expeditions against the French coast, gaining a reputation as a firm and skillful officer for his role in the series of naval descents on the French coast including theRaid on Rochefort in September 1757.[3] Promoted tocommodore, with hisbroad pennant in the third-rateHMS Essex, he took part in theRaid on St Malo in June 1758, theRaid on Cherbourg in August 1758 and theBattle of Saint Cast in September 1758.[3] He was particularly noted for his conduct at Rochefort, where he had taken theÎle-d'Aix, and was described byGeorge Rodney as performing his duties "with such cool and steady resolution, as has most justly gained him the universal applause of army and navy".[4]
After the death of his elder brother, killed nearTiconderoga on 6 July 1758, Howe becameViscount Howe in thePeerage of Ireland.[1] On 20 November 1759, he led AdmiralEdward Hawke's fleet at theBattle of Quiberon Bay where the British won a decisive victory, forestalling aplanned French invasion of Britain.[3] He became Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral theDuke of York in the third-rateHMS Princess Amelia in June 1762.[3]
Howe was appointed to theBoard of Admiralty led byJohn Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich asSenior Naval Lord[5] in April 1763.[6] He becameTreasurer of the Navy in 1765 and, having been promoted torear admiral on 18 October 1770, went on to beCommander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in November 1770.[7] Promoted tovice admiral on 5 February 1776,[8] he becameCommander-in-Chief, North American Station later that month.[7]
At the beginning of theAmerican War of Independence, Howe was known to be sympathetic to the colonists. He had knownBenjamin Franklin since late 1774 and was joined in a commission with his brother,General Sir William Howe, head of the land forces, to attempt a reconciliation.[7]
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Howe was ordered to institute anaval blockade of the American coastline, but this proved to be ineffective. Howe claimed to have too few ships to successfully accomplish this, particularly as a number had to be detached to support operations by theBritish Army. As a result, large amounts of covert French supplies andmunitions were smuggled to America. It has been suggested that Howe's limited blockade at this point was driven by his sympathy with and desire for conciliation with the Americans.[9] By 1778 the blockade was looking more promising, with many merchant ships being taken. Howe complained to London that while his ships were able to successfully guard the southern colonies, the blockade of the northern colonies was still ineffective.[10]
The strategy of the British in North America was to deploy a combination of operations aimed at capturing major cities and a blockade of the coast.[11] The British tookLong Island in August 1776 and capturedNew York City in September 1776 in combined operations involving the army and the navy during theNew York and New Jersey campaign. He represented the Crown at theStaten Island Peace Conference held on 11 September 1776.[12] In 1777 Howe provided support to his brother'soperation to capture Philadelphia, ferrying General Howe's army to a landing point from which they successfully marched and took the city. Howe spent much of the remainder of the year concentrating oncapturing Forts Mifflin andMercer which controlled entry to theDelaware River without which ships could not reach Philadelphia. News of thecapture of a separate British army under GeneralJohn Burgoyne threw British plans into disarray. Howe spent the winter inNewport, Rhode Island.[13]
In Summer 1778 a French squadron commanded by theComte d'Estaing was sent to America. Howe's fleet was delayed departing New York by contrary winds, and he arrived offPoint Judith on 9 August.[14] Since d'Estaing's fleet outnumbered Howe's, the French admiral, fearful that Howe would be further reinforced and eventually gain a numerical advantage, reboarded the French troops, and sailed out to do battle with Howe on 10 August.[15] As the two fleets prepared to battle and manoeuvred for position, the weather deteriorated, and amajor storm broke out. Raging for two days, the storm scattered both fleets, severely damaging the French flagship.[16] As the two fleets sought to regroup, individual ships encountered enemy ships, and there were several minor naval skirmishes; two French ships (including d'Estaing's flagship), already suffering storm damage, were badly mauled in these encounters.[16] The French fleet regrouped off Delaware, and returned to Newport on 20 August, while the British fleet regrouped at New York.[17]
Three of Howe's ships, the sixth-rateHMS Sphinx, the convertedmerchantmanHMS Vigilant and therow galleyHMSSpitfire Galley, bombarded American troops during theBattle of Rhode Island on 29 August.[18] Howe then chased the remaining ships of the French fleet toBoston inMassachusetts where they made repairs. With no prospect of the French fleet coming out of port, Howe left his station in September 1778.[7]
Declining to serve afterwards, Howe cited distrust ofLord North and a lack of support during his command in America. He was further embittered by the replacement of himself and his brother as peace commissioners, as well as by attacks in the press against him by ministerial writers including the prominentLoyalistJoseph Galloway. An inquiry in Parliament demanded by the Howe brothers to justify their conduct in America was held during 1779 but ended inconclusively.[19] Howe spent much of the next three years with the opposition attacking the government's alleged mismanagement of the war at sea. The only exception was his support of a motion of thanks to Admiral George Rodney for his victory against the Spanish during theMoonlight Battle.[20]
As Howe had joined the opposition in Parliament to North's government, it was clear that until it was replaced he would be unable to secure a fresh naval command. Despite the setback at Saratoga, and the entry of France, Spain and the Dutch Republic into the war, North's government continued to gain strength until October 1781 when a British army underLord Cornwallis was forced to surrender to a combined Franco-American force atYorktown. Although the government was able to continue for several more months its effective power had been sapped.[21] In March 1782 the House of Commons passed a motion ending offensive actions against the American rebels, although the war around the rest of the globe continued with the same intensity. North's government then fell and was replaced by a weak coalition of Whigs led by theMarquess of Rockingham.[1]
Not until the fall of Lord North's government in March 1782 did Howe once again accept a command. Despite the suspension of hostilities in America, the war in Europe continued with the same force and the Royal Navy was severely stretched in having to deal with the French, Spanish and Dutch fleets. Howe received instructions fromAugustus Keppel, the new First Lord of the Admiralty, to proceed toPortsmouth and take command of theChannel Fleet, which he did in April 1782.[7] Promoted to fulladmiral on 8 April 1782,[22] he was createdViscount Howe in thePeerage of Great Britain on 20 April 1782.[23]
Howe's task was complex. He had to protect inbound trade convoys from the Americas, as well as keep track of the Franco-Spanish fleet, while also keeping an eye on the Dutch fleet at port in theTexel, which was reportedly ready to sail. He also had to keep in mind the need to attempt a relief ofGibraltar, which had beenunder siege for several years and would be forced to surrender if it wasn't resupplied soon. Howe had to accomplish these tasks with significantly fewer ships than his combined opponents. Keppel observed the Royal Navy's best hope was to quickly shift their limited forces from one area of danger to another.[24]
In May Howe took a number of ships to the Dutch coast to scout out Dutch preparations. If the Dutch made asortie into theNorth Sea they would be able to threaten Britain's vitalBaltic convoys, including precious naval stores which were needed for continuing the war. This in turn might lead the Dutch to launch attacks on the East coast of England. As the Dutch fleet appeared unlikely to put to sea immediately, Howe returned to Britain, leaving a squadron of nine ships to keep a watch on the Texel.[24] The French and Spanish fleets had sailed fromBrest andCádiz and combined in theWestern Approaches, where they managed to capture some merchant ships. Howe put to sea to try and monitor them, and received information that a major trade convoy was incoming from theWest Indies.[25]
Howe had only 25 ships-of-the-line against 36 enemy ships underAdmiral Córdoba, which separated him from the convoy he was ordered to protect. He sent a message for the convoy to put into safety in ports inIreland. Howe then took his fleet by a dangerous route around the north side of theIsles of Scilly. This allowed him to get between the inbound convoy and the Franco-Spanish fleet as well as allowing him to gain theweather gauge which would be a major advantage in any battle.[26] The next morning the Franco-Spanish fleet had disappeared. After waiting a while Howe decided to go in pursuit of them, later receiving news that the West Indian convoy had safely reached harbour in the English Channel. The Franco-Spanish fleet had been blown southwards by a stronggale, and then received orders in early August to return home.[27]
In September 1782, Howe carried out the relief ofGibraltar – a difficult operation, as there were 46 French and Spanish ships-of-the-line against only 33 of his own. The exhausted state of the fleet made it impossible for Howe to fit out his ships properly or supply them with good crews, and Howe's progress to Gibraltar was hampered by the need to escort a large convoy carrying stores. Howe successfully relieved Gibraltar and then fought an indecisive action at theBattle of Cape Spartel in October 1782, after which he was able to bring his fleet safely back to Britain, bringing an effective end to the naval campaign.[7]
Howe becameFirst Lord of the Admiralty in January 1783 during theEarl of Shelburne's ministry, resigning in April 1783 when theDuke of Portland came to power and being re-appointed in December 1783 underthe Younger Pitt's first ministry.[7] The task was often difficult, for he had to agree to extreme budgetary constraints and disappoint the hopes of many officers who were left unemployed by the peace. Nonetheless, during his time in office a number of new ships were built as part of a navalarms race with France and Spain. During his time at the Admiralty, Howe oversaw a number of innovations tosignalling.[28] Howe felt constantly undermined byCharles Middleton, theComptroller of the Navy. Pitt often completely bypassed Howe on naval decisions and went directly to Middleton. By 1788 Howe grew tired of this and he resigned his post as First Lord despite efforts to persuade him to stay. To show their goodwill and approval of him, the government awarded Howe anEarldom on 22 July 1788.[29]
In 1790 a dispute by Britain and Spain over theNootka Sound on the Pacific coast of North America threatened to spark a war between the two states. Howe, as one of the most senior and experienced officers still serving, was offered command of the fleet in May 1790 and took up his post in Portsmouth in July 1790. Consisting of 35ships-of-the-line the Channel Fleet put to sea and cruised for around a month to the west ofUshant before returning to port. The crisis was then settled peacefully by diplomats and Howe was able to return to his retirement on land.[30] During a similar crisis withRussia in 1791 known as theRussian Armament Howe was not offered any command, probably because he was suffering fromill health.[31]
Following the outbreak of theFrench Revolutionary Wars, Howe was again given command of the Channel Fleet in 1793.[32] In command of a British fleet of twenty-two ships he defeated a fleet of twenty-five French ships, which had been escorting a grain convoy, capturing seven of the enemy ships, at theGlorious First of June in June 1794.[32] For this victory he received the largeNaval Gold Medal and chain.[33] He was promoted toAdmiral of the Fleet on 12 March 1796.[34]
In May 1797, Howe was called on to pacifySpithead mutineers: he spent twelve hours being rowed round the fleet and speaking to the men following which peace was restored.[35][36] For this he was appointed aKnight of the Order of the Garter on 2 June 1797.[37] Howe died at his home at 11 Grafton Street in London on 5 August 1799 and was buried in his family vault atSt Andrew's Church, Langar inNottinghamshire.[35] His monument byJohn Flaxman is in the south aisle[38] atSt Paul's Cathedral.[39][40][41]
Places named after Howe include:
TheKing George V class battleshipHMS Howe bore his name.[51]
On 10 March 1758 Howe married Mary Hartop; they had three daughters.[35] His title of Earl Howe therefore became extinct with a lack of a male heir, while his viscountcy went to his younger brother,William Howe. His eldest daughterSophia inherited his barony; she married twice, firstly to the Hon. Penn Assheton Curzon, son ofAssheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon, and his first wife Esther Hanmer, and secondly, in 1812, toSir Jonathan Waller. She died on 3 December 1835 aged 73, and is buried in Holy Trinity Church,Penn, Buckinghamshire. Sophia's eldest surviving son,Richard, was createdEarl Howe in 1821.[52]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Hannay, David (1911). "Howe, Richard Howe, Earl". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 836–837. Endnotes:| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forDartmouth 1757–1782 With:John Jeffreys to 1766 Richard Hopkins 1766–1780 Arthur Holdsworth from 1780 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Treasurer of the Navy 1765–1770 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | First Lord of the Admiralty 1783 | Succeeded by |
| First Lord of the Admiralty 1783–1788 | Succeeded by | |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by | Senior Naval Lord 1763–1765 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet 1770–1774 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief, North American Station 1776–1778 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Admiral of the Fleet 1796–1799 | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Vice-Admiral of Great Britain 1792–1796 | Succeeded by |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by | Viscount Howe 1st creation 1758–1799 | Succeeded by |
| Baron Glenawley 1758–1799 | ||
| Baronetage of England | ||
| Preceded by | Baronet of Compton 1758–1799 | Succeeded by |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Earl Howe 1st creation 1788–1799 | Extinct |
| Viscount Howe 2nd creation 1782–1799 | ||
| Baron Howe 1788–1799 | Succeeded by | |
