George Augustus Howe (1725 - 1758)

Born 1725 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (D'Aubigne) Rutherford — married 1755 in Virginia, America

Died 6 Jul 1758 at about age 33 in Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York

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George Howe was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

Biography

George Howe is Notable.

British general in the French & Indian War

Howe, the son of Lt-Gen. Lord Emanuel Scrope Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe, and a grandson of Britain’s King George I, entered the army at an early age and rose up through the ranks. With the death of his father in 1735, he became Lord Howe, 3nd Viscount Howe.

In 1757, he was promoted to colonel of the 3rd Battalion in the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot which was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia. At the time, Britain was fighting the French for control of North America in the French and Indian War. While in Halifax, Howe was transferred to the command of the 55th Regiment of Foot in September and three months later at age 32, promoted to brigadier general.

The following year in 1758, his regiment participated in General James Abercrombie unsuccessful assault on French controlled Fort Carillon (later renamed Fort Ticonderoga), situated between Lake George and Lake Champlain in upstate New York. On July 6, Howe led one of four columns of British troops, along with Connecticut militia, from the shores of Lake George through the wooded terrain towards Fort Carillon, commanded by General Marquis de Montcalm, when they encountered a unit of French soldiers.

In the ensuing skirmish the British did very well capturing 148 French soldiers and causing twice that in casualties. Unfortunately, in their attack, a French soldier shot a musket ball into General Howe's chest. He reportedly died in the arms of Major Israel Putnam of the Connecticut militia (and future general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution).

The Massachusetts Assembly later voted £250 to place a monument in Howe’s memory in Westminster Abbey in London. George Augustus Howe is the older brother of Admiral Richard Howe and General William Howe, who both fought with distinction during the American Revolution.

Under the Northwest tower of Westminster Abbey is a monument, the inscription on which tells its own tale:

“The province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, by an order of the great and general court, bearing date Feby. 1st, 1759, caused this monument to be erected to the memory of George Augustus Lord Viscount Howe, brigadier-general of His Majesty’s Forces in America, who was slain July 6th 1758, on the march to Ticonderoga, in the 34th year of his age; in testimony of the sense they had of his services and military virtues, and of the affection their officers and soldiers bore to his command. He lived respected and beloved the publick regretted his loss; to his family it was irreparable”.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Howe,_3rd_Viscount_Howe
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13037500
• https://www.geni.com/people/General-George-Howe-3rd-Viscount/6000000109886315037
• http://www.thorotonsociety.org.uk/events/stanford-house-2013.htm
• Sewall, Samuel. The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. (Wiggin & Lunt, Boston, 1868) Page 549: Appendix, No. IX. "Diary of Lieut. Samuel Thompson of Woburn". Also see footnote.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #13037500