John Grubham Howe
Encyclopedia
John Grubham Howe commonly known as Jack Howe, was an English
politician. Elected on numerous occasions as Member of Parliament
, he made the transition from the Whig to the Tory faction.
of Langar
, Nottinghamshire
, who was member of parliament for Gloucestershire. His mother was Annabella, third and youngest illegitimate daughter and coheiress of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland
.
Early in life he figured as a young and amorous courtier. In 1679 he brought an accusation against Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond, which on investigation proved to be false, and he was forbidden to attend the court. At this period he wrote verses.
he sat for Cirencester
in the Convention parliament, January 1689 to February 1690, and in its two successors 1690-5 and 1695-8. The county of Gloucester
returned him in 1698, and again in January 1701. At the subsequent election (December 1701) the Whigs concentrated efforts against him and ejected him from the seat. In Queen Anne's first parliament (1702) Howe was returned for four constituencies (Bodmin
, Gloucester city
, Gloucester county, and Newton in Lancashire
); and chose his old seat for Gloucestershire. A petition by Sir John Guise, his opponent for the county, against his return was defeated by 219 votes to 98. After 1705 he ceased to sit in parliament.
At the beginning of William III
's reign Howe had urged severe measures against such politicians as Carmarthen
and Halifax
, identified with the measures of James II
. He was then a strong Whig, and in 1689 was appointed vice-chamberlain to Queen Mary
. Early in March 1692 the queen dismissed him from that post, and he at the same time lost the minor position of Keeper of the Mall. In the following November he was summoned before the court of verge for wounding a servant of his in Whitehall, and on pleading guilty was pardoned (December 1692). From this time he became a fierce Tory. He took an active part against Gilbert Burnet
for his 'Pastoral Letter,' and spoke vehemently against the prosecution of the war and on behalf of Sir John Fenwick. He served among those appointed by the House of Commons to bring in a bill on the forfeited estates in Ireland (December 1699), and thundered in parliament over the grants to King William's Dutch friends of some of the property. Howe's attack on the partition treaty, which he denounced by the title of the 'Felonious Treaty,' was so savage that William exclaimed that but for their disparity of station he would have demanded satisfaction. Howe denounced foreign settlers in England and standing armies. When the army was reduced (1699) he succeeded in obtaining half-pay for the disbanded officers.
With Queen Anne's accession Howe was once more a courtier, and in 1702 moved that a provision of £100,000 a year should be secured to her consort, Prince George of Denmark. He was created a privy councillor on 21 April 1702, and Vice-Admiral of Gloucestershire on 7 June. On the retirement of Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh
, the post of Paymaster-General was divided, and Howe was appointed paymaster of the guards and garrisons at home (4 January 1702-3).
and he is said to have written a Panegyric on King William. An anecdote by Sir Thomas Lyttelton
in illustration of his speaking talents is in the Gentleman's Magazine, and he is introduced into Jonathan Swift
's ballad On the Game of Traffic. A satirical speech of Monsieur Jaccou (i.e. Jack How), purporting to be 'made at the general quarter sessions for the county of G—r,' and ridiculing his vanity and French leanings, was printed. Thomas Babington Macaulay speaks of him as tall, thin, and haggard in look.
, and widow of Sir Edward Morgan of Llanternam, Monmouthshire
. His son and heir John Howe
was the first Baron Chedworth
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
politician. Elected on numerous occasions as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, he made the transition from the Whig to the Tory faction.
Early life
He was second son of John Grobham HoweJohn Grobham Howe (died 1679)
John Grobham Howe was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1679.Howe was the younger son of Sir John Howe, 1st Baronet and his wife Bridget Rich, daughter of Thomas Rich of North Cerney. In 1659, Howe was elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the...
of Langar
Langar, Nottinghamshire
Langar is a small village about four miles south of Bingham in Nottinghamshire and the Vale of Belvoir.-Geography:To the south of the parish of Langar cum Barnstone, on Langar Airfield, it borders Clawson, Hose and Harby, the district of Melton and Leicestershire. At Hose Lane it meets Colston...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, who was member of parliament for Gloucestershire. His mother was Annabella, third and youngest illegitimate daughter and coheiress of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland
Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland
Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland, 11th Baron Scrope of Bolton was an English nobleman. He was Lord President of the King's Council in the North.-Family:...
.
Early in life he figured as a young and amorous courtier. In 1679 he brought an accusation against Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond, which on investigation proved to be false, and he was forbidden to attend the court. At this period he wrote verses.
Member of Parliament
Following the Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
he sat for Cirencester
Cirencester (UK Parliament constituency)
Cirencester was a parliamentary constituency in Gloucestershire. From 1571 until 1885, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, and one member between 1868 and 1885...
in the Convention parliament, January 1689 to February 1690, and in its two successors 1690-5 and 1695-8. The county of Gloucester
Gloucestershire (UK Parliament constituency)
The constituency of Gloucestershire was a UK Parliamentary constituency. After it was abolished under the 1832 Electoral Reform Act, two new constituencies, West Gloucestershire and East Gloucestershire, were created....
returned him in 1698, and again in January 1701. At the subsequent election (December 1701) the Whigs concentrated efforts against him and ejected him from the seat. In Queen Anne's first parliament (1702) Howe was returned for four constituencies (Bodmin
Bodmin (UK Parliament constituency)
Bodmin was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall from 1295 until 1983. Initially, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England and later the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1868 general...
, Gloucester city
Gloucester (UK Parliament constituency)
Gloucester is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was established in 1295 to return two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons but in 1885 representation was reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885...
, Gloucester county, and Newton in Lancashire
Newton (UK Parliament constituency)
Newton was a parliamentary borough in the county of Lancashire, in England. It was represented by two Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1559 to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
); and chose his old seat for Gloucestershire. A petition by Sir John Guise, his opponent for the county, against his return was defeated by 219 votes to 98. After 1705 he ceased to sit in parliament.
At the beginning of William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
's reign Howe had urged severe measures against such politicians as Carmarthen
Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds
Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds, KG , English statesman , served in a variety of offices under Kings Charles II and William III of England.-Early life, 1632–1674:The son of Sir Edward Osborne, Bart., of Kiveton, Yorkshire, Thomas Osborne...
and Halifax
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax PC was an English statesman, writer, and politician.-Family and early life, 1633–1667:...
, identified with the measures of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. He was then a strong Whig, and in 1689 was appointed vice-chamberlain to Queen Mary
Mary II of England
Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
. Early in March 1692 the queen dismissed him from that post, and he at the same time lost the minor position of Keeper of the Mall. In the following November he was summoned before the court of verge for wounding a servant of his in Whitehall, and on pleading guilty was pardoned (December 1692). From this time he became a fierce Tory. He took an active part against Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet was a Scottish theologian and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was respected as a cleric, a preacher, and an academic, as well as a writer and historian...
for his 'Pastoral Letter,' and spoke vehemently against the prosecution of the war and on behalf of Sir John Fenwick. He served among those appointed by the House of Commons to bring in a bill on the forfeited estates in Ireland (December 1699), and thundered in parliament over the grants to King William's Dutch friends of some of the property. Howe's attack on the partition treaty, which he denounced by the title of the 'Felonious Treaty,' was so savage that William exclaimed that but for their disparity of station he would have demanded satisfaction. Howe denounced foreign settlers in England and standing armies. When the army was reduced (1699) he succeeded in obtaining half-pay for the disbanded officers.
With Queen Anne's accession Howe was once more a courtier, and in 1702 moved that a provision of £100,000 a year should be secured to her consort, Prince George of Denmark. He was created a privy councillor on 21 April 1702, and Vice-Admiral of Gloucestershire on 7 June. On the retirement of Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh
Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh
Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh PC FRS , known as The Viscount Ranelagh between 1669 and 1677, was an Irish peer, politician both in the Parliaments of England and Ireland.-Background:...
, the post of Paymaster-General was divided, and Howe was appointed paymaster of the guards and garrisons at home (4 January 1702-3).
Later life
On 15 May 1708 he became joint clerk to the privy council of Great Britain. After Anne's death his places were taken from him, and his name was left out of the list of privy councillors. He then retired to Stowell House in Gloucestershire, an estate which he had purchased, and died there in June 1722, being buried in the chancel of the church on 14 June.Works, reputation and legacy
There are verses by him in the Collection of Poetry of John NicholsJohn Nichols (printer)
John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
and he is said to have written a Panegyric on King William. An anecdote by Sir Thomas Lyttelton
Sir Thomas Littleton, 3rd Baronet
Sir Thomas Littleton, 3rd Baronet , often Thomas de Littleton, was a British statesman. He was the son of Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet and his wife and cousin Anne Littleton....
in illustration of his speaking talents is in the Gentleman's Magazine, and he is introduced into Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
's ballad On the Game of Traffic. A satirical speech of Monsieur Jaccou (i.e. Jack How), purporting to be 'made at the general quarter sessions for the county of G—r,' and ridiculing his vanity and French leanings, was printed. Thomas Babington Macaulay speaks of him as tall, thin, and haggard in look.
Family
His wife was Mary, daughter and coheiress of Humphry Baskerville of Poentryllos in HerefordshireHerefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, and widow of Sir Edward Morgan of Llanternam, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
. His son and heir John Howe
John Howe, 1st Baron Chedworth
John Howe, 1st Baron Chedworth was a British peer and politician, the son of John Grubham Howe.In 1712, he succeeded his father as Vice-Admiral of Gloucestershire, but was removed from office in 1715....
was the first Baron Chedworth
Baron Chedworth
Lord Chedworth, Baron of Chedworth, in the County of Gloucester, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created on 12 May 1741 for John Howe, who had earlier represented Wiltshire in Parliament. In 1736 he had succeeded to the estates of his cousin Sir Richard Howe, 2nd Baronet...
.