HOWE, RICHARD, EARL, the second son of Emanuel Scrope Howe, governor of Barbadoes, and Mary Sophia Charlotte, daughter of Baron Kielmansegge, master of the horse to George I. when elector of Hanover, was born in 1725. At the age of fourteen he left Eton, and joined the Severn, one of the squadron which, under the command of Commodore Anson, was sent to make war upon the western coasts of Spanish America. On his return he received an appointment in the Burford, one of the fleet destined to the West Indies; where his behaviour in an action was such as to hasten his promotion, and he was made lieutenant of the Comet in 1745. His name is first publicly mentioned in the account of the siege of Fort William, when ho was in command of the Baltimore. Shortly after be joined the Greyhound frigate (Captain Noel), and, with her assist. ante, engaged two French ships at Loch Nouy, but did not succeed in capturing them : Commander Howe was wounded is the head.
On his arrival iu England he was raised to the rank of Captain, and at the request of Bear.Adruiral Knowles, was sent to join his on the Jamaica station, where he arrived too late for the action off the Havanna, 2nd of October 1748; the Cornwall, which had severely suffered in the action, was sent home under his orders. In 1751 Captain Howe obtained a commission for the Glory, of 44 guns, destined for Africa, and on his return from thence, was successively appointed to the Mary yacht and the Dolphin frigate, in which he acquired much valuable knowledge of the navigation on the Barbary shores. In 1755 the command of the Dunkirk, 60 guns, was given to him, and he sailed with Admiral Boscawen. The fleet took up a position off Cape Race, Newfoundland, in order to iutercept the French fleet. The foga enabled the main body of the enemy to escape; but two ships, the Llya and the Alcide, struck to Captain Howe. Thus commenced the Seven Years' War.
In 1756 Howe was employed in the Channel service; during the following year he commanded the Magnanime, under Sir Edward Hawke, but the expedition proved unsuccessful, except in taking a fort on the island of Aix. On the 1st of June 1758 he hoisted his flag in the Essex, as commodore of the fleet destined to blockade Brest. Contrary winds forced them to-put back, a month after their departure from St. Helen's; but sailing a second time, with the Duke of York on board the Essex, he reached Cherbourg, and instantly reduced it : after this he landed the troops in St. Lunaire bay to attack St. Melo, an object which they abandoned in order to engago with the French at Martignoa, where many English were killed while endeavouring to embark. On this occasion Howe distinguished him self by his coolness and intrepidity. In 1758 he married Mary, daughter of Chiverton Hartop of Welby; and soon after, losing his brother Viscount Howe, he succeeded to his title and estate. In 1759 Lord Howe was re-appointed to the Magnanime, and on the 20th of June engaged with the squadron under M. de Conflans, in which Howe took the Thdade and the Formidable. His reputation was uow eo high that George IL complimented him by saying that "his life had been one continued series of services to his country." After he had been again afloat in the Princess Amelia, be returned home ; and peace being proclaimed, Howe occupied a seat at the Board of Admiralty for two years, and then filled the important office of Treasurer of the Navy, and was returned to parliament for Dart mouth. Except in questions that regarded naval administration, he took little part in the business of the house. In October 1770, he was promoted to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue, and commander-it: chief in the Mediterranean. In 1770 be sailed on board the Eagle for North America. He was successful in a brilliant action with
D'Estaing's squadron off Rhode Island, which be quitted September 1778, and on the 30th of October landed at St. Helen's. On a change of ministers, his friends, who came into power, appointed bim Admiral of the Blue, and to the command of the Victory; but failing in his attempt to intercept the West Indian traders, he soon returned to Spithead. He was then sent to relieve which he accom plished, and arrived in England on the 14th of November. Lord Koppel having resigned his office, Lord Howe succeeded him as First Lord of the Admiralty. He quelled, in his own person, a mutiny on board the Janus. In three months he was obliged to resign, on another change of ministry, which restored Lord KeppeL At this time he was created Earl Howe, in acknowledgment of his service., with remainder of the barony of Langer to his eldest daughter. Ou the 22nd of June 1790 he was appointed to the command of tho Channel fleet, with the additional and peouliar distinction of bolus ordered by his majesty to hoist the union at the main, on board the Queen Charlotte of 100 guns; but after cruising about in a fruitless search for the Spanish fleet, he anchored at Spithead, 14th September, and enjoyed repose on shore for a considerable time. In 1791 ho again advanced with the 'several convoys to the Lizard, and the same day discovered three frigates outside of Brest harbour. On the 25th of May two French corvettes were taken; and on the 28th of May several French vessels were seen far to the southeast, and the Bellerophon engaged with the ltdvoIntionnaire. The enemy's motions having been watched during the night, the two fleets continued in the same relative position on the morning of the 29th : on the 80th and 31st the state of the weather prevented an engagement, but on the let of Juue the action commenced at 9 a.m. The Marlborough, Defence, Queen Charlotte, &c., broke the enemy's line : ten of the enemy's ships were dismasted, seven were taken, throe only rejoinod the French admiral, and Howe had the glory of towing into Ports mouth six ships of the line.
Lord Howe's health now began to fail; but notwithstanding his infirmities, he consented to go in person to quell the mutinies that had arisen at Portsmouth, Spithead, &c.; he ascertained the causes of complaint, and endeavoured to remove them by causing the obnoxious officers to be superseded : his concessions wero jadiclous, but they did not escape censure.
This was the last public act of hie life. With his wife and daughter he spent the rest of his life in retirement at his house at Porter's Lodge, In the enjoyment of a fortune of about 18001.a year. lie had declined a pension, which was offered him after the action of the 1st of June. On the death of Dr. Warren, and in the absence of his other medical adviser, Dr. Pitcairn, at Lisbon, he tried electricity an a remedy for his complaint; the disease, which was the gout, was by these means driven to his head, and after sinking rapidly, he expired on the 5th of August, 1799. He was buried in the family vault in Nottinghamshire, and a monument by Flaxman was erected to his memory at the public expense. In person Lord Howe was tall and well proportioned; his features strongly marked and dark—their expression generally harsh. Ilia mind was strong, and his judgment usually correct. His reserve gave rise to the saying, that " Howe never made a friendahip but at the mouth of a cannon." Bravery, patient endurance under adverse events, and coolness in danger, were his chief characteristics. He was the first sea-officer of his time. (Barrow, Life of Howe.)