HOWARD. A noble English family, which far many centuries has stood at the head of the English peerage, and has held the dukedom of Norfolk since the middle of the fifteenth century. The earliest of the house to gain distinction was Sir William Howard, a learned Chief Justice of the Common Pleas under Edward I. and Edward II. His grandson, Sir John Howard. was ad miral and captain of the King's navy in the north of England and also sheriff of Norfolk. in which county he held extensive estates, subse quently increased by the marriage of his grand son. Sir Robert, with the co-heiress of the House. of Mowbray. Dukes of Norfolk. The only son of this union was Sir John Howard. one of the lead ing supporters of the House of York, who, having gained early distinction in the French wars of Henry VI., was appointed by Edward IV. con stable of the important castle of Norwich, and sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. Afterwards he became treasurer of the royal household, obtained a grant of the whole benefit that should accrue to the King by coinage of money in the city and Tower of London. and elsewhere in England: and was raised to the peerage as Lord Howard and Duke of Norfolk. We find him in 1470 made captain-general of the King's forces at sea. and most strenuous in that capacity in his resistance to the House of Lancaster. Finally he was created Earl Marshal of England, an honorary distinction still borne by his 1484 was appointed Lord Admiral of England. Ireland, and Aquitaine. He fell next year. how ever, on Bosworth Field, and after his death his honors were attainted. as also were those of his son Thomas. who had been created Earl of Surrey. The latter, however, after suffering three years of imprisonment in the Tower of London, obtained a reversal of his own and his father's attainders. and became distinguished as a general, winning fame by his defeat of the Scotch at Flodden in 1513. His son Thomas.
third Duke of Norfolk. by his marriage with a daughter of King Edward IV., became the father of the accomplished hut ill-fated Earl of Surrey, who was put to death by Henry VIII. Norfolk. too. was sentenced. hut the death of Henry saved him from the block. The Earl's son Thomas. fourth Duke of Norfolk, suffered attainder, and was executed on Tower Hill for high treason. for his communication with Nary, Queen of Scots, The family honors, however, were restored, partly by James I., to his grandson, and partly by Charles 11., to his great-great-grandson, Thomas, who beeame eighth Duke, and whose cousin and successor. Charles, ninth Duke, NN 8, the direct ancestor of the present Duke of Norfolk.
In one or other of their widespread branches, the Howard.; either have enjoyed within the last three centuries. or still enjoy, I he earldoms of Car lisle. Suffolk, Berkshire, Northampton, Anindel, ieklow, Norwich, and Effingham. and the baronies of 'timbal, 'Howard de Walden, 'Howard of Castle Rising, and Howard of Effingham.
Among the other distinguished members of the family. Sir Edward Howard, brother of tho first Earl of Surrey, was made by 'Henry VIII. King's standard-bearer and admiral of the fleet, in which capacity he lost his life in boarding a French vessel off Brest in 1513; his brother, Sir Edmund, acted as Marshal of the Horse at Fltald•n, and his half-brother, Sir Thomas Howard. was attainted, and died• a prisoner in the Tomer. for aspiring, to the hand of Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Mar garet, Queen of Scotland, and niece of Henry VIII.. one of whose ill-fated consorts was Lady Catharine Howard. Consult: Collins, Peerage of England( Sth ed., London, 1779) Dugdale, Baron age of England (London, I 75-76) ; Doyle, Offi cial Baronage of England (L.111(1011, I 8S6 ; How ard, Memorials of the Howard Family (privately printed, 183•) ; Lodge, Portraits of Illustrious Personages (London. 1835).