Robert Howe (Continental Army officer)

Robert Howe (1732 – 1786) was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War and a delegate to the Continental Congress from North Carolina.

Howe was born into a prominent North Carolina family. He served in the North Carolina colonial militia, rising to the rank of colonel. He became increasingly involved in Whig politics leading up to the Revolution.

Upon the outbreak of hostilities, Howe was appointed a colonel in the Continental Army in 1775. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a brigadier general in 1776 and a major general in 1777. He played a significant role in the Southern theater of the war, commanding the Southern Department from 1777 to 1778. However, his tenure in command was marred by several controversies and defeats, most notably the capture of Savannah, Georgia, by the British in December 1778. He was subsequently relieved of his command and court-martialed. Although acquitted of negligence or misconduct, his reputation suffered.

Howe remained in the Continental Army after the court-martial. He served in various roles, including overseeing the defenses of Charleston, South Carolina. He played a role in suppressing a mutiny in the Pennsylvania Line in 1781.

Following the war, Howe remained active in politics. He was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1786 but died later that year before he could take his seat.

Robert Howe was a complex and controversial figure in the American Revolution. While he achieved high rank and played a significant role in the war, his career was also marked by setbacks and accusations of incompetence. He is remembered both for his contributions to the American cause and for the controversies that plagued his command.