Sir William Howe (General, British Army)

Sir William Howe

Sir William Howe (1729–1814), British General in the American Revolution from July 1775 to May 1778. He was an illegitimate descendant of King George I and had a distinguished military career before his appointment in the American colonies. He had led the first assault up the steep path to the Plains of Abraham when Quebec was seized in 1759. In 1758 he had been elected a member of Parliament from Nottingham, representing that constituency until 1780.

~ American Revolution ~

As a Whig, Howe was opposed to British coercion of North America, but he obeyed King George III's orders and went to Boston in time to command the British troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775). He replaced Gen. Thomas Gage as commander in America in October 1775. On orders from England, and under pressure from Gen. George Washington's besieging forces, he evacuated Boston in March 1776.

After Fort Ticonderoga's big guns were situated on Dorchester Heights, General Howe, with sword drawn (left), knew that his stronghold was doomed. Here, Howe is depicted as personally directing the evacuation of British troops from Boston on March 17, 1776

In early summer, Howe's army was on Staten Island preparing to seize New York City. He occupied the city after defeating Washington in the Battle of Long Island (August 1776). Not counting the siege of Boston, Howe met Washington in four major battles in 14 months. Twice he achieved brilliant victories—at Long Island and at the Brandywine in September 1777. The Battle of White Plains (October 1776) was inconclusive, although Washington abandoned the field, but at Germantown (October 1777) Howe narrowly escaped serious trouble. After this battle, he withdrew to winter quarters in Philadelphia.

Howe's advance from New York toward Philadelphia in the summer of 1777 has been criticized because he took his troops by ship up the Chesapeake Bay when he might have saved nearly a month by going up the Delaware River. Furthermore, because he attacked Philadelphia, Howe has been accused of failing to assist Gen. John Burgoyne in his advance from Canada toward Albany. But this criticism is hardly just, for Howe had no orders to assist Burgoyne.

~ Later Years ~

When Howe, in Philadelphia, received only a small portion of the reinforcements he had requested, he felt that he had lost the king's confidence, and in November 1777 he sought relief from his command. In May 1778 he was replaced by Sir Henry Clinton and returned to England. Howe continued in royal favor, however, and was knighted and made a lieutenant general for his victory in the Battle of Long Island. He became a full general in 1793. When his brother Adm. Lord Richard Howe died in 1799, he succeeded him as 5th Viscount Howe. He had married in 1765 but had no children. He died in Plymouth, England, July 12, 1814.

Howe was an excellent tactician but was somewhat lacking in strategic sense. His great fault was his failure to follow up his successes. Sluggish and indolent by nature, he missed many chances to advance the British cause—for example, his failure to bottle up Washington's army on Manhattan Island, New York, after his victory on Long Island. He was an indulgent commander, popular with his troops, and friendly to all. He may be regarded as a competent but not a great general.

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Picture Credit: Anne. S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library (top & bottom).
Author: Edward P. Hamilton - Director, Fort Ticonderoga