Notes for John Eager Howard

Notes for John Eager Howard

During the revolution, John Eager Howard accepted a captain's commission and began his military career fighting at the battle of White Plains in 1776. Quickly promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Howard joined General Nathanael Greene at Camden, South Carolina. At the battle of Cowpens [For a description of the battle see Daniel Morgan to NG, 19 January 1781] he commanded part of the Maryland line, which under his lead routed the British forces with a decisive bayonet charge. Additionally, Howard served with Greene at the battle of Guilford Courthouse [For more information see Battle of Guilford Court House], Hobkirk's Hill, and Eutaw Springs.

From 1787 to 1788 he was a member of the Continental Congress, after which he was elected the fifth governor of Maryland. Howard continued his political career as a member of the Maryland legislature and, in 1796, as a U. S. senator. John Eager Howard died in Baltimore Co., Maryland, in 1827.

Originally part of Anne Arundel Co., the area was designated the Howard District in 1839, in honor of John Eager Howard, statesman, soldier, and fifth governor of Maryland. Howard County became the 21st of Maryland's 23 counties in 1851, with the county seat at Ellicott Mills.

HOWARD, John Eager, (father of Benjamin Chew Howard), a Delegate and a Senator from Maryland; born at ‘Belvedere,’ near Baltimore, Md., June 4, 1752; was instructed by private tutors; served throughout the Revolutionary War, beginning as a captain and holding the rank of colonel when peace was declared; was voted a medal and the thanks of Congress for gallantry at the battle of Cowpens 1781; Member of the Continental Congress 1788; Governor of Maryland 1789-1791; member, State senate 1791-1795; elected as a Federalist 1796 to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Richard Potts; reelected in 1797 and served from November 30, 1796, to March 3, 1803; served as President pro tempore of the Senate during the Sixth Congress; offered the position of Secretary of War by President George Washington, but declined; also declined a commission as brigadier general in the expected war with France in 1798; unsuccessful Federalist candidate for vice president in 1816; died at ‘Belvedere,’ near Baltimore, Md., October 12, 1827; interment in Old St. Paul’s Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.