Parliament. In 1759, Howe accompanied the
army of Gen. James Wolfe during the epic
campaign against Quebec. On the night of Sep-
tember 12, 1759, Howe, leading a forlorn troop
of 25 men, secretly scaled the heights leading
to the Plains of Abraham, thus enabling
Wolfe’s army to follow. He also distinguished
himself in the next day’s fighting that wit-
nessed the death of both Wolfe and Louis-
Joseph Montcalm. Howe’s good perform-
ance resulted in his gaining command of an
infantry brigade under Gen. James Murray,
and he directed the advance during the cap-
ture of Montreal in 1760. Howe then returned
to Europe, where he was conspicuously en-
gaged in the capture of Belle Isle on the coast
of Brittany in 1761. The following year he
gained additional laurels as adjutant general
of British forces during the successful capture
of Havana in 1762. Howe ended the Seven
Years’ War with an enviable reputation—and a
seemingly bright future still to come.
In the decade that followed, Howe contin-
ued to display his military expertise, particu-
larly with respect to training soldiers. Service
in America taught him the value of light in-
fantry suitable for skirmishing, and in 1772 he
devised a drill manual especially designed for
such troops. King George III was so impressed
that he authorized every regiment in the army
to raise a light company of its own. In recogni-
tion of his contributions, Howe was elevated
to major general. This royal patronage was
flattering but did not measurably alter Howe’s
political convictions, which placed him in the
opposition Whig party. Like many others, he
strongly opposed the imposition of taxes and
other coercive acts upon the colonies. In fact,
Howe looked favorably upon the colonies ever
since Massachusetts constructed a memorial
to his slain brother at Westminster Abbey in
- When troubles within that colony began
escalating toward violence, Howe publicly de-
clared he would never fight against his former
comrades in arms. However, after close con-
sultation with the king and Lord George Ger-
main, secretary of state for the colonies, he
changed his tack and agreed to serve. As a pre-
condition, he and his brother, Adm. Richard
Howe, were authorized to negotiate a settle-
ment with the rebels.
In May 1775, Howe arrived in Boston with
Gens. John Burgoyneand Henry Clinton.
There he reported to Gen. Thomas Gage, the
commander in chief of British forces. The
angry colonials were in no mood to negotiate
with Gage, Howe, or anybody else, and when
the British seized American military supplies
stored at Lexington, fighting erupted. Within
weeks, an estimated 15,000 colonial militia
surrounded Boston, effectively sealing off
Gage’s 7,000 soldiers. The British did their
best to avoid a confrontation until June, when
the militia constructed fortifications atop
Charlestown Heights, overlooking the harbor.
If artillery was posted there, the British would
be cut off from the sea, so Gage felt he had no
choice but military action. Accordingly, on
June 17, 1775, Howe drew up plans for a
frontal assault against prepared colonial posi-
tions on Bunker Hill. It seemed reckless, but
the British were determined to mount an un-
mistakable display of military might to intimi-
date the rebels. The sight of a steady wall of
advancing, red-coated infantry was calculated
to unnerve the skittish Americans, but to
everyone’s surprise the rebels blasted back
two determined charges. Against orders, both
Howe and Clinton then led the final third
charge in person, just as the colonial position
ammunition supply gave out. Howe’s inspired
bravery carried the day, but British losses
were upward of 1,000 men—nearly half his
force. But the colonial militia convincingly
demonstrated their resolve to fight, and Howe
never again attempted a direct confrontation.
Gage’s failure to appease the Americans led
to his recall that October, and Howe suc-
ceeded him as commander in chief. Boston
was then formally invested by colonial forces
under Gen. George Washington, and Howe
concluded it was futile to defend the city fur-
ther. On the night of March 17, 1776, he ex-
pertly disengaged and removed his army by
ship to Halifax. Three months later he landed
at Staten Island, New York, in anticipation ofHOWE, WILLIAM