Howe, Richard Howe, Earl
Howe, Richard Howe, Earl,
1726–99, British admiral; elder brother of Viscount HoweHowe, William Howe, 5th Viscount,1729–1814, English general in the American Revolution; younger brother of Admiral Richard Howe.
..... Click the link for more information. . He won early recognition in the Seven Years War for his operations in the English Channel. After the outbreak of the American Revolution, he was given (1776) command of the North American fleet. He and his brother were commissioned to seek a peaceful settlement of the dispute with the colonies, but negotiations at Staten Island in 1776 came to nothing, and he supported (1777) his brother's successful campaign against Philadelphia. In 1778 he outmaneuvered the French fleet under the comte d'EstaingEstaing, Charles Hector, comte d'
, 1729–94, French admiral. After serving in India he was given (1778) command of a French fleet sent to aid the colonists in the American Revolution. Planning to attack Newport, R.I.
..... Click the link for more information. in its attempt to cooperate with land troops to take British-held Newport, R.I. He resigned later that year, but in 1782 he assumed command of the Channel fleet and relieved the siege of Gibraltar. Howe is best remembered for his decisive victory over the French fleet in the battle called the First of June in 1794. Created Earl Howe in 1788, he was popularly known as Black Dick.
Bibliography
See I. D. Gruber, The Howe Brothers and the American Revolution (1972).