Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/400

 HOWARD

HOWARD

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HOWARD, Henry, governor of Rhode Island, was burn in I ranston, R.I., April 2, IS'-iG ; son of Jesse and Mary (King) Howard ; grandson of Peter Howard ; great-grandson of Solomon How- ard, and a descendant of Gabriel Bernon, a Huguenot emigrant from La Rochelle, France, late in the / ^■*^v^ seventeenth century,

i^ttw^ * ''"■ III one of the first set-

fS ^^. /-^ tiers of Providence

Plantations. His fath- er was a judge of the court of common pleas, and for twenty- five years treasurer of the People's Savings bank in Providence. Henry was prepared for college at the ^/^i^^*^ /^/truuf^*'aC^ academies at Fruit Hill, Seekonk and Smithville, and at the university grammar school in Providence, but discontinued his studies on account of ill health. After a brief period spent in mercantile business, he studied law under William W. Hoppin, was admitted to the bar in 1851. and practised until 1858, when he returned to mercantile life, and after that time was en- gaged mainly in managing the business of the Harris Manufacturing company, of which he be- came president in 1867. He was elected a representative in the general assembly from Coventry in 1857 and 1858 ; was a delegate to and a secretary of the first Republican national con- vention at Philadelphia, June 17, 1856, and of the convention at Cincinnati, June 14, 1876, and was a presidential elector in 1872. He was elected governor of Rhode Island in 1873, was re-elected in 1874, and declined renomination. He was appointed by the President an assistant commis- sioner to the industrial exposition at Paris in 1878, and made an extended report to the gov- ernment of the textile exhibits from all countries. In 1900 he was invited to attend the Republican national convention at Philadelphia, as one of the few surviving members of the first Republican conventi<m of 1856. He was married, Sept. 30, 1851. to Catherine G., daughter of Gov. Elisha Harris, of Coventry, R.I, Brown university con- ferred upon him the honorary degree of A.M. in 1873. He is the author of many contributions to periodical literature, including poems and letters of travel.

HOWARD, Jacob Merritt, senator, was born in ShaftsVniry. Vt.. July 10, 1805; seventh in descent from William Howard, the immigrant, who settled in Braintree, Mass., in 1035. He was brought up on his father's farm, prepared

for college at the academies at Bennington and Brattlel)oro, and was graduated ;it Williams col- lege in 1830. His tuition was paid out of his earnings as teacher of district schools. He taught at an academy in Massachusetts in 1830- 31 ; removed to Michigan in 1832 ; studied law in Detroit, and was admitted to the bar in 1833. He was married in 1835 to Catherine A. Shaw, of Ware, Mass. He was a representative in the- Michigan legislature in 1838 ; a representative in the 27th congress, 1841-43 ; attorney-general of Michigan, 1855-60; U.S. senator to fill the unexpired term of Kinsley S. Bingham, deceased, 1862-65, and by re-election, 1865-71. He was chairman of the ordnance committee and a mem- ber of other prominent senate committees. He drew up the platform of the convention made up of Whigs and Freesoilers, assembled at Jack- son, Mich., July 6, 1854, which gave birth to the Republican party, and he is accredited with having named the new party. He was a dele- gate to the Loyalists' convention of 1866 at Phila- delphia. Williams college conferred upon him tlie degree of LL.D. in 1866. He published a Trans- lation from the French of the Secret Memoirs of the Empress Josephine (1847). He died in Detroit, Mich., April 2, 1871.

HOWARD, John Eager, senator, was born at "Belvedere," Baltimore county, Md.. June 4, 1752 ; son of Cornelius and Ruth (Eager) How- ard ; grandson of Joshua and Joanna (O'Carroll) Howard, and great-grandson of George Eager, who came to Balti- more county before 1668. Joshua Howard came to Baltimore from Manchester, England, where he was an officer of the army of the Duke of York, settling and building" Belvedere"' as a home in 1607. Joanna O'Carmll, whom be married, was a native of Ire- land. John Eager Howard, at the out- break of the Revolu- tion, joined the American forces as captaiiv in the second battalion of the flying camp. Col. J. C. Hall. He fought in the battle of White Plains, N.Y., Oct. 28, 1776, under Gen. Hugh Mercer. In March, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of major and assigned to the fourth battalion. Colonel Hall, and engaged in the bat- tles of Monmouth and Germantown. On March 11, 1770, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and assigned to the second Maryland regiment, and