, a relation of the preceding, was the younger brother of sir Scroop Howe, of Nottinghamshire.
, a relation of the preceding, was
the younger brother of sir Scroop Howe, of Nottinghamshire. In the convention-parliament, which met at Westminster Jan. 22, 1688-9, he served for Cirencester, and
was constantly chosen for that borough, or as a knight of
the shire for the county of Gloucester, in the three last
parliaments of king William, and in the three first of queen
Anne. In 1696 he was a strenuous advocate for sir John
Fenwick; and his pleading in behalf of that unfortunate
gentleman, shews his extensive knowledge of the laws, and
aversion to unconstitutional measures. In 1699, when the
army was reduced, it was principally in consideration of
Mr. Howe’s remonstrances, that the House of Commons
agreed to allow half-pay to the disbanded officers; and
when the partition-treaty was afterwards under the consideration of that house, he expressed his sentiments of it in
guch terms, that king William declared, that if it were not
foi the disparity of their rank, he would demand satisfaction
with the sword. At the accession of queen Anne, he was
sworn of her privy-council April 21, 1702; and, on June
7 following, constituted vice-admiral of the county of
Gloucester. Before the end of that year, Jan. 4, 1702-3,
he was constituted paymaster-general of her majesty’s
guards and garrisons. Macky says of him, “he seemed
to be pleased with and joined in the Revolution, and was
made vice-chamberlain to queen Mary; but having asked
a grant, which was refused him, and given to lord Portland, he fell from the court, and was all that reign the most
violent and open antagonist king William had in the house.
A great enemy to foreigners settling in England; most
clauses in acts against them being brought in by him. He
is indefatigable in whatever he undertakes; witness the old
East India company, whose cause he maintained till he>
fixed it upon as sure a foot as the new, even when they
thought themselves past recovery. He lives up
” to what his
visible estate can afford; yet purchases, instead of running
in debt. He is endued with good natural parts, attended
with an unaccountable boldness; daring to say what he
pleases, and will be heard out; so that he passeth with
some for the shrew of the house. On the queen’s accession to the throne he was made a privy-counsellor, and
paymaster of the guards and garrisons. He is a tall, thin,
pale-faced man, with a very wild look; brave in his person,
bold in expressing himself, a violent enemy, a sure friend,
and seems to be always in a hurry. Near fifty years old."
Such is the character given of this gentleman in 1703.
A new privy council being settled May 10, 1708, according
to act of parliament, relating to the union of the two
kingdoms, he was, among the other great officers, sworn
into it. He continued paymaster of the guards and garrisons till after the accession of George I. who appointed
Mr. Walpole to succeed him on Sept. 23, 1714: the privy
council being also dissolved, and a new one appointed to
meet on Oct. 1 following, he was left out of the list. Retiring to his seat at Stowell in Gloucestershire, he died
there in 1721, and was buried in the chancel of the church
of Stowell.