The British forces sent to quell the rebellion in the North American colonies in May 1775

The British forces sent to quell the rebellion in the North American colonies in May 1775

were under the command of brothers: General William Howe commanding the army and Admiral Richard Howe commanding the navy. On the surface, the Howe brothers may have seemed an odd choice for the assignment. Although they were accomplished and skilled officers, both had publicly expressed their disapproval of British colonial policy. Their elder brother George Howe had been killed in fighting near Fort Ticonderoga during the French and Indian War (he had died in the arms of future Patriot Israel Putnam) and was regarded as a hero in the colonies. But the British authorities knew that, whatever their feelings about the justice of the colonial cause, the Howe brothers would do their duty and they hoped that having the Howes in command would improve the chances of a negotiated resolution to the crisis.

The Howes were titled aristocrats. Their father had been the 2nd Viscount Howe, a title that had been inherited by George (the 3rd Viscount Howe). Upon the death of George, who was unmarried and childless, Richard had become the 4th Viscount Howe. The title was destined to pass eventually to William, who would become the 5th Viscount Howe.

Sir William Howe commanded the costly British attack at Bunker Hill, and he became commander in chief of British forces with the departure of General Gage in October 1775. Under Howe’s command the British drove Washington’s army out of New York and in October 1777 he led his victorious army into the American capital at Philadelphia. After capturing the city, Howe tendered his resignation and returned to England.

Richard Howe too had success in North America, but he was never able to bring on a decisive engagement with the French navy there. In September 1778, Richard resigned his command and returned to England where, like his brother William, he became involved in politics. He returned to naval duty in 1782 and that October performed what may have been his most important service to his country when he led an outgunned force through the French and Spanish blockade of Gibraltar and relieved the garrison there.

Because he had no male issue, upon the death of Admiral Richard Howe in London at age 73 on August 5, 1799 (two hundred twenty-five years ago today) his title as Viscount Howe passed to his brother Sir William Howe. When William Howe died without children in 1814, the viscountcy Howe died with him.

The images are of General Sir William Howe (left) and Admiral Lord Richard Howe (right).

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