Military officer; born in
England, Aug. 10, 1729; was, by illegitimate descent, uncle of George III.
He entered the army as cornet of dragoons, and distinguished himself under
Wolfe at
Quebec.
Made colonel of infantry in 1764, he rose to the rank of
majorgeneral in 1772.
In May, 1775, he arrived at
Boston with reinforcements for
General Gage.
At that time there was much reluctance among British officers to serve against the
American colonists.
The
Earl of
Effingham and the eldest son of
William Pitt resigned their commissions rather than engage in the unnatural service; and
General Oglethorpe, the
senior general of the royal army, declined the proffered service of commander-in-chief of the
British army in
America.
After
Gage's recall, it was offered to
General Howe, and accepted.
He was in chief command in the battle of
Bunker (
Breed's)
Hill, June 17, 1775, and when forced to leave
Boston, March, 1776, went with his troops to
Halifax.
In August, the same year, he landed a large number of troops on
Staten Island, near New York.
With them the
Americans were defeated in battle on
Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776, and for this he was soon after knighted.
He took possession of New York City, Sept. 15, and was defeated in battle at
White Plains (q. v.), Oct. 28.
On Nov. 16 he captured
Fort Washington, on
Manhattan Island, and in July, 1777, sailed in the fleet of his brother,
Admiral Howe, for
Chesapeake Bay.
Marching for
Philadelphia, he defeated
Washington in battle on
Brandywine Creek, Sept. 11, 1777, and entered
Philadelphia on Sept. 26.
Howe repulsed an attack made by
Washington, Oct. 4, at
Germantown, and spent the ensuing winter in
Philadelphia.
In May, 1778, he was succeeded by
Sir Henry Clinton, and returned to
England.
Sir William was made lieutenant-general of ordnance in 1782, and in 1786 colonel of dragoons and full general.
In 1795 he was appointed governor of
Berwick, and on the death of his brother, in 1799, succeeded to his Irish viscounty.
Howe was governor of
Plymouth and a privy-councillor at the time of his death, July 12, 1814.
