James Patrick Howley was a naturalists and geologists, one of the first European

European ethnic groups

The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....

s to visit the interior of the Island of Newfoundland at Bay du Nord River

Bay du Nord River

The Bay du Nord River is located on the south coast of the Island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Much of the drainage basin is contained within the Middle Ridge Wildlife Reserve and the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve of central Newfoundland.The river empties...

 system.

Howley, son of Richard Howley and Eliza Burke was educated at Saint Bonaventure's College

Saint Bonaventure's College

St. Bonaventure's College is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St...

, St. John's Newfoundland. For a time he worked in the office of the colonial secretary

Chief Secretary

The Chief Secretary is the title of a senior civil servant in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and, historically, in the British Empire. Prior to the dissolution of the colonies, the Chief Secretary was the second most important official in a colony of the British Empire after the...

, but his fame came when he participated in the geographical and topographical survey of the colony of Newfoundland.