Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Howe, Joseph
HOWE, JOSEPH (1804–1873), colonial statesman, born on 13 Dec. 1804 in a cottage on the bank of the North-west Arm at Halifax in Nova Scotia, was the son of John Howe (1752-1853), who was for many years king's printer there and postmaster-general of the lower provinces. His mother, the daughter of Captain Edes, was his father's second wife. Joseph received no regular education. When fourteen he was apprenticed as a compositor in the 'Gazette' office at Halifax. He devoted many odd hours to reading, and during his apprenticeship published a poem called 'Melville Island,' descriptive of a small island at the head of the North-west Arm. In 1827, in partnership with James Spike, he purchased the 'Halifax Weekly Chronicle,' and changed its name to the 'Acadian.' He became himself its non-political editor. Before the year was out, however, he sold his half-share to his partner, and himself bought for 1,050l. in 1828, from a journalist named Young, a paper, founded three years previously, called the 'Nova Scotian.' From the outset the ' Nova Scotian,' under his direction as its sole editor and proprietor, succeeded beyond all expectation. In it he published two series of papers by himself, the first called 'Western and Eastern Rambles' through all parts of the British North American possessions, and the second entitled 'The Club,' a sort of transatlantic 'Noctes Ambrosianæ.' Howe also reported with his own hand the debates in the Assembly and the trials in the courts of law. Among his collaborateurs was Thomas Chandler Haliburton [q. v.], better known as 'Sam Slick,' for whom, at a heavy loss to himself, he published the now standard 'History of Nova Scotia.' In 1829 Howe became an ardent free-trader, and in 1830 commenced in his journal a series of remarkable papers entitled 'Legislative Reviews.' On 11 Jan. 1832 he opened, with an inaugural address, a mechanics' institute in Halifax. In 1835 his strenuous opposition to the local government led to an action for libel (The King v. Joseph Howe). He conducted his own defence, and spoke for six hours and a half with an eloquence which at once established his reputation as an orator. He obtained a verdict of not guilty, and was conducted home in triumph. This case established upon sure foundations freedom of the press in the colony. In November 1836 Howe was elected, by a majority of more than one thousand, member for the county of Halifax in the local parliament. On 4 Feb. 1837 he made his maiden speech. On the 11th of that month he inaugurated his agitation for securing to Nova Scotia responsible government by laying twelve resolutions before the lower house, and about the same time began his advocacy of the right of the cities of the British colonies generally to municipal privileges. From April to November 1838, in company with 'Sam Slick,' he was in Europe on a first visit, and travelled through various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, and the continent of Europe. The Tyrian brig in which he sailed out was overtaken by the Sirius, which was concluding its trial trip as the first steamship to carry mails across the Atlantic. Howe interested himself in the matter, and drew up the letter addressed (24 Aug. 1838) to Lord Glenelg, then colonial secretary, which led to the contract for the carriage of mails between Samuel Cunard [q. v.] and the English government. On his return home he published an account of his journey under the title of 'The Nova Scotian in England.'
During Howe's absence in Europe the Earl of Durham had come and gone as governor-general of British North America. Lord Durham's 'Report in favour of Responsible Government in the Five Provinces' (dated February 1839) led to. the realisation of Howe's desire for independent government. In 1840 Howe was appointed a member of the executive council and showed great skill as an administrator. In the late autumn of that year he was elected speaker of the House of Assembly. During four years he served as provincial secretary under Sir John Harvey. He was in England from November 1850 to April 1851 as a delegate from Nova Scotia, and on three occasions afterwards acted in the mother-country as agent for the lower provinces; his essay on the organisation of the empire appeared in 1866. In 1870 he was appointed secretary of state for those provinces in the Dominion of Canada; and, on the resignation in May 1873 of General Sir Hastings Doyle, he was nominated governor of Nova Scotia. He had hardly been installed in office when he died suddenly at Halifax on 1 June 1873.
In 1828 Howe married Catharine Susan Ann, the only daughter of Captain John MacNab, by whom he had ten children.
[Personal recollections; The Speeches and Public Letters of the Hon. Joseph Howe, compiled by William Annand in 2 vols. imp.8vo,1858; Men of the Time, 8th ed. p. 510; Athenæum, 7 June1873.]