The Earl Howe | |
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Richard Howe, painted by John Singleton Copley, 1794
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Born |
London, England |
8 April 1726
Died | 5 August 1799 London, England |
(aged 73)
Buried | St Andrew's Church, Langar, Nottinghamshire |
Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
Service/branch | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1740–1799 |
Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
Commands held |
HMS Baltimore HMS Triton HMS Ripon HMS Cornwall HMS Glory HMS Dolphin HMS Dunkirk HMS Magnanime HMS Princess Amelia Mediterranean Fleet North American Station Channel Fleet |
Battles/wars |
War of the Austrian Succession Jacobite rising of 1745 Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War French Revolutionary Wars |
Awards | Knight of the Order of the Garter |
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe, KG (8 March 1726 – 5 August 1799) was a British naval officer. After serving throughout the War of the Austrian Succession, he gained a reputation for his role in amphibious operations against the French coast as part of Britain's policy of naval descents during the Seven Years' War. He also took part, as a naval captain, in the decisive British naval victory at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in November 1759.
In North America, Howe is best known for his service during the American Revolutionary War, when he acted as a naval commander and a peace commissioner with the American rebels; he also conducted a successful relief during the Great Siege of Gibraltar in the later stages of the War.
Howe later commanded the victorious British fleet during the Glorious First of June in June 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Howe was born in Albemarle Street, London, the second son of Emanuel Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe, who died as governor of Barbados in March 1735, and of Charlotte, a daughter of Baroness von Kielmansegg, afterwards Countess of Darlington, the half-sister of King George I.