Emanuel Howe (British Army officer)

Lieutenant-General Emanuel Scrope Howe (c. 1663 – 26 September 1709) was an English army officer, diplomat, and Whig politician who commanded the 15th Regiment of Foot from 1695 until his death and advanced through senior ranks amid the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession.^[1] Born the fourth surviving son of John Grobham Howe of Langar, Nottinghamshire, and Lady Annabella Scrope, he married Ruperta, the illegitimate daughter of Prince Rupert of the Rhine, in 1695, with whom he had three sons and two daughters, though two children predeceased him.^[1] Howe's military career began as a captain in the 1st Foot Guards in 1689, during which he served in Flanders and sustained wounds at the 1695 Siege of Namur.^[1] Promoted to brigadier-general in 1704, major-general in 1707, and lieutenant-general in 1709, he accompanied the Elector of Hanover on campaigns while maintaining his regimental command. In parallel, he held diplomatic posts as envoy extraordinary to the Elector of Hanover from 1705 to 1709, where he worked to sustain the Grand Alliance against France, though his efforts were occasionally complicated by his wife's correspondence with the Duchess of Marlborough.^[1] As a parliamentarian, Howe represented Morpeth from 1701 to 1705 and Wigan from 1705 to 1708, aligning with Whig interests under patrons like Lord Carlisle and Lord Halifax; he opposed the Occasional Conformity Bill's "tack" in 1704 and supported the Godolphin administration.^[1] Additional appointments included groom of the bedchamber (1689–1702), commissioner of prizes (1702–1705), and keeper of Alice Holt and Woolmer Forests in Hampshire (1699–1709), reflecting his ties to court and administrative circles.^[1] He died in England during leave from Hanoverian duties, leaving his estates primarily to his eldest surviving son.^[1]

Early Life and Education

Family Background

Emanuel Scrope Howe was born circa 1663 as the fourth surviving son of John Grobham Howe (1625–1679) of Langar, Nottinghamshire, a landowner with ties to local gentry, and Lady Annabella Scrope (circa 1629–1704).^[1]) His mother was the illegitimate daughter and co-heiress of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland (1580–1630), connecting the family to the prominent Scrope lineage, which traced its nobility to medieval times through holdings like Bolton Castle in Yorkshire.^[1] The Howes resided primarily at Langar Hall, reflecting their status as established Nottinghamshire gentry, though the Scrope inheritance elevated their aristocratic associations.^[1] His elder brothers included Scrope Howe (1648–1713), who was knighted in 1663 and later created 1st Viscount Howe, and John Grobham Howe (died 1721), known as "Jack" and elected MP for Gloucestershire; a third brother, Charles Howe, pursued scholarly interests as a writer.^[1]) The family produced five daughters as well, though specific details on their lives remain limited in contemporary records.) John Grobham Howe's death in 1679 left the sons to navigate their careers amid the political turbulence following the Restoration, with several aligning to Whig interests.^[1]

Entry into Public Service

Emanuel Scrope Howe entered public service in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, having actively supported William III's accession to the throne in 1688.^[1] In recognition of this loyalty, he was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber in 1689, a court position involving personal attendance on the monarch that he retained until William's death in 1702.^[1]^[2] Simultaneously, Howe received a military commission as captain in the 1st Foot Guards in 1689, marking his initial entry into the British Army.^[1] This elite regiment, responsible for guarding the sovereign and key duties in London, provided early operational experience amid the political transitions of the period. He progressed to captain and lieutenant-colonel within the same unit by 1693.^[1]

Military Career

Service in the Nine Years' War

Following the Glorious Revolution, Emanuel Scrope Howe received a commission as captain in the 1st Foot Guards in 1689, serving in this capacity until 1695.^[1] He was promoted to captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1693 while continuing in the Guards.^[1] Howe participated in the Allied campaigns in Flanders during the Nine Years' War, a conflict pitting the Grand Alliance against France from 1688 to 1697.^[1] In summer 1695, he was wounded during the Siege of Namur, a key Allied victory where forces under William III captured the strongly fortified city after intense fighting from late June to early September.^[1] ^[3] In November 1695, shortly after the siege, Howe purchased the colonelcy of the 15th Regiment of Foot, which he commanded for the remainder of the war until the regiment's return to England in 1697.^[1]

Command of the 15th Regiment of Foot

Emanuel Scrope Howe was appointed colonel of the 15th Regiment of Foot on 1 November 1695, succeeding Sir James Lesley who had been cashiered following the surrender of Dixmude.^[4] Under his command, the regiment continued service in the Netherlands during the final phases of the Nine Years' War, including operations around Namur in 1697 where it participated in the recapture of the town on 25 July and the surrender of its citadel on 5 September.^[4] With the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1701, Howe's regiment deployed to Flanders, contributing to the Allied campaigns under the Duke of Marlborough. In 1702, it took part in the sieges of Venloo, Ruremonde, and Liège, forcing passages through French defensive lines and capturing key fortresses.^[4] The regiment fought at the Battle of Schellenberg on 2 July 1704 and the subsequent Battle of Blenheim on 13 August 1704, where it was led in the field by Lieutenant-Colonel William Breton with approximately 584 men.^[4] Further engagements included the Battle of Ramillies in 1706 and the Battle of Oudenarde on 11 July 1708, during which the 15th Regiment helped secure Allied victories in the Spanish Netherlands.^[4] In 1709, prior to Howe's death, the regiment participated in the siege of Tournay from 27 June to 29 July, the capture of its citadel on 3 September, the Battle of Malplaquet on 11 September, and the onset of the siege of Mons.^[4] Howe retained the colonelcy until his death on 26 September 1709, having been promoted to major-general in 1707 and lieutenant-general earlier that year.^[4]

Promotions and Later Engagements

Howe retained his colonelcy of the 15th Regiment of Foot from November 1695 until his death in 1709.^[1] During the early phases of the War of the Spanish Succession, he was promoted to brigadier-general in April 1704, though a kidney disorder prevented his participation in that year's campaign.^[1] Further promotions followed in quick succession: to major-general in March 1707 and lieutenant-general in May 1709, the latter granted shortly after his direct request to the Duke of Marlborough.^[1] These advancements reflected his Whig alignment and service record, despite limited field engagements post-Namur; no major combat roles are recorded after his 1704 illness.^[1] In 1709, Howe secured a regimental company from Marlborough for his son, indicating ongoing influence in military patronage networks.^[1] His later military duties intertwined with diplomatic efforts, as he served concurrently as envoy extraordinary to Hanover from 1705 to 1709, prioritizing Anglo-Hanoverian coordination over active command.^[1]

Political Involvement

Parliamentary Service

Howe unsuccessfully contested the borough of Wigan at the first election of 1701.^[1] He was returned for Morpeth at the second election of that year, benefiting from the interest of Charles FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Carlisle, with his election expenses covered by Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax.^[1] As a Whig, he supported the Court in the House of Commons, voting on 13 February 1703 in favour of the Lords' amendment to extend the time for taking the oath of abjuration.^[1] He was listed in October 1704 among probable opponents of the Tack, and either voted against it or was absent when it was put to the vote on 28 November.^[1] Howe delivered one recorded speech in Parliament on 7 February 1702, proposing an inquiry into reports that several Members of Parliament had met with the French agent Louis Cousin, known as Poussin.^[1] He was re-elected for Morpeth in 1702.^[1] In 1705, his return for Wigan—secured unopposed through the local Bradshaigh interest—was classified as a Whig gain; contemporaries also described him as a 'Churchman' following that election.^[1] However, his parliamentary activity diminished after his appointment as envoy extraordinary to Hanover later in 1705, which limited his attendance in the Commons.^[1] He did not stand for re-election at Wigan in 1708 and received no further nominations before his death in 1709.^[1]

Alignment with Whig Interests

Howe entered Parliament in December 1701 as Member for Morpeth, elected on the interest of Charles Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle, explicitly to bolster the Court Whig faction in support of King William III's administration.^[1] This alignment reflected his military background and family ties, positioning him as a reliable government supporter amid partisan divisions between Whigs favoring constitutional monarchy and Tories sympathetic to hereditary Stuart claims. In early 1702, Howe advocated for an inquiry into Members of Parliament's contacts with the French agent Jean-Baptiste Poussin, signaling opposition to Jacobite intrigue and reinforcing Whig priorities of national security and Protestant succession.^[1] His voting record further demonstrated consistent Whig adherence. On 13 February 1703, he supported the Lords' amendment extending the deadline for the oath of abjuration, a measure aimed at affirming loyalty to the post-Revolution settlement against Jacobite pretenders.^[1] In 1704, as a probable opponent of the Tack—a Tory strategy to append the Occasional Conformity Bill to a supply bill, thereby forcing a dissolution—Howe either voted against it on 28 November or was absent in a manner aligned with Court resistance, helping to defeat the maneuver and preserve government funding.^[1] Reelected for Wigan in 1705, his victory was recorded as a Whig gain, underscoring his role in maintaining parliamentary majorities for the administration under Queen Anne.^[1] Howe's Whig commitments extended beyond voting to diplomatic service, as his 1705 appointment as envoy extraordinary to Hanover advanced Court policies favoring the Electress Sophia and her heirs for the British throne, a cornerstone of Whig strategy against Catholic succession risks.^[1] This placeman status tied his political fortunes to Whig ministerial influence, though he navigated tensions, such as rivalries in Hanover smoothed by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough.^[1] His service ended with his death in 1709, leaving a legacy of pragmatic support for Whig governance over ideological Tory challenges.^[1]

Diplomatic and Administrative Roles

Support for the Glorious Revolution

Emanuel Scrope Howe, fourth surviving son of John Grobham Howe of Langar, Nottinghamshire, and Lady Annabella Scrope (illegitimate daughter of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland), supported William of Orange's invasion of England in November 1688, alongside his elder brothers Sir Scrope Howe and John Grobham Howe.^[1] This stance aligned the Howe family with Protestant interests opposing James II's Catholic policies and perceived absolutist tendencies, contributing to the regime change that ensued with minimal bloodshed.^[1] Following William III's successful landing at Torbay on 5 November 1688 and James II's flight to France in December, Howe's loyalty was rewarded in 1689 with appointment as Groom of the Bedchamber, a household position carrying an annual salary of £500 that he retained for the duration of William's reign until 1702.^[1] Simultaneously, he received a military commission as captain in the 1st Foot Guards, marking his entry into formal army service under the new monarch.^[1]^[5] These preferments underscored the post-revolutionary elevation of supporters who facilitated the transition of power, with Howe's early alignment securing both administrative influence at court and a foothold in the officer corps amid the expansion of standing forces.^[1] No records detail specific tactical contributions by Howe during the 1688 campaign itself, but his family's collective backing—evident in Sir Scrope Howe's role in coordinating noble defections—exemplified the elite consensus that rendered armed resistance to William untenable.^[6]

Keeper of Alice Holt and Woolmer Forests

Emanuel Scrope Howe received appointment as Keeper of Alice Holt and Woolmer Forests in Hampshire in 1699, a role he retained until his death a decade later.^[1] The position derived from a reversionary grant by William III, succeeding the prior term held by William Legge as lieutenant of the forests.) As Keeper, Howe oversaw administrative duties in these royal woodlands, which spanned areas in eastern Hampshire and were valued for timber and game preservation. Howe shared the responsibilities with his wife, Ruperta, daughter of Prince Rupert of the Rhine, who continued exercising the office of Ranger in the forests for decades after his passing, including petitions to the Treasury as late as 1740. The couple resided at the Great Lodge within Alice Holt Forest, where they invested in repairs estimated at £1,200 to maintain the property amid its use as a ranger's lodge.^[7] This appointment supplemented Howe's military and parliamentary income, functioning as a grace-and-favor administrative sinecure tied to Crown forest management rather than active enforcement of forest laws.^[8]

Personal Life and Family

Marriage and Children

Lieutenant-General Emanuel Scrope Howe married Ruperta Hughes circa 1695.^[9]^[10] Ruperta (c.1673–1741) was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Rupert of the Rhine and the actress Margaret Hughes.^[11]^[12] The marriage produced six children: three sons and three daughters.^[11] The daughters were Rachel (died in infancy, c.14 April 1701),^[9]^[13] Sophia Arabella (baptized 28 December 1698 or 1699, died 4 April 1726),^[9]^[13] and Henrietta (c.1704–after 1728).^[14] The sons included Emanuel Scrope Howe (c.1700–1735), who succeeded his uncle as 2nd Viscount Howe;^[9]^[13] a younger Emanuel (1701–1721);^[15] and James (1704–1728).^[14] None of the sons except the eldest produced surviving legitimate issue, though the viscount's descendants included several prominent British military figures.^[1]

Residences and Estates

Howe resided at the Great Lodge in Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire, which served as his primary seat during his tenure as Keeper of Alice Holt and Woolmer Forests.^[1] Appointed to this custodianship in 1699 by King William III, he oversaw the management and preservation of these royal hunting grounds until his death a decade later, a role that included enforcement of forest laws and maintenance of the estate's infrastructure.^[1] The Great Lodge itself functioned as the administrative and residential hub for the keepers, reflecting Howe's integration of military discipline with estate oversight in this strategically wooded area near the southeastern Hampshire border.^[1] In 1699, Howe and his wife Ruperta were jointly granted the rangership of Alice Holt Forest, entitling them to occupancy of the lodge and associated privileges, such as woodcutting rights and game management, which Ruperta continued exercising as dowager ranger after his passing until 1740.^[16] This appointment underscored the couple's administrative control over the forest's 6,000 acres of oak-dominated woodland, historically vital for naval timber and royal hunts.^[16] Beyond the forests, Howe's holdings included land in St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, which he specified in his will for bequest to his eldest son, Emanuel Scrope Howe the younger, indicating modest additional property interests outside his primary Hampshire responsibilities.^[1] No extensive familial estates in Nottinghamshire or Wiltshire—associated with his Howe kin—devolved directly to him, as his branch's fortunes were tied more to courtly offices than inherited manors.^[1]

Death and Legacy

Circumstances of Death

Emanuel Scrope Howe died on 22 September 1709, three months after returning to England on leave from military service abroad.^[1] His death followed a recent promotion to lieutenant-general in May 1709, during the ongoing War of the Spanish Succession, in which he had held commands including as colonel of the 15th Regiment of Foot.^[1] ^[17] No specific cause of death is recorded in contemporary accounts. In his will, Howe bequeathed land at St. Neots in Huntingdonshire to his eldest son and directed his estate to his wife Ruperta, with the remainder passing to their children upon her death or remarriage.^[1] He was buried at Holy Cross Churchyard in Binsted, Hampshire.^[10]

Influence on Descendants

Emanuel Scrope Howe's direct male line ended without significant continuation, as his sons predeceased potential maturity or prominence; his son Emanuel received a regimental company procured through the influence of the Duke of Marlborough in May 1709, shortly before Howe's death, but died in 1721 without recorded issue or further advancement.^[1] Other sons, including William and James, either died young or left no verifiable legacy in military or public service.^[10] His daughters provided limited avenues for familial influence. Sophia Arabella Howe, baptized 28 December 1698, married Colonel Bevill Long circa 1720, but their descendants did not emerge in historical records as inheriting or extending Howe's military or political connections. Henrietta Howe wed in 1736, yet no evidence attributes notable achievements or inheritance patterns to her offspring that trace back to Howe's career or Whig affiliations. Rachel Howe died in infancy around 1701.^[13] ^[18] Overall, Howe's influence on descendants appears confined to immediate provisions like his son's military posting, without broader generational impact; this contrasts with the parallel prominence in his brother Scrope Howe's line, where nephews such as the Howe brothers of the American Revolutionary era achieved high command, though not directly attributable to Emanuel. No estates or titles passed through his progeny to sustain a distinct legacy.^[1]