William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe

General The Right Honourable The Viscount Howe KB PC
Engraving by Henry Bryan Hall
Commander-in-Chief of British land forces
In office September 1775 – May 1778
Monarch	George III
Preceded by	Thomas Gage
Succeeded by	Henry Clinton
Member of Parliament for Nottingham
In office 1758–1780 Serving with Willoughby Aston (1758–1761) Serving with John Plumptre (1761–1774) Serving with Charles Sedley (1774–1778) Serving with Abel Smith (1778–1779) Serving with Robert Smith (1779–1780)
Preceded by	George Howe
Succeeded by	Daniel Coke
Personal details
Born	(1729-08-10)10 August 1729 England
Died	12 July 1814(1814-07-12) (aged 84) Twickenham, United Kingdom
Resting place	Twickenham
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Frances Connolly ​ (m. 1765)​
Military service
Allegiance	Great Britain
Branch/service	British Army
Years of service	1746–1814
Rank	General
Commands	Colonel, 60th (later 58th) Regiment of Foot Colonel, 46th Regiment of Foot Commander-in-Chief of British land forces Colonel, 19th Light Dragoons Northern District
Battles/wars	See battles War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War Siege of Louisbourg Battle of Beauport Battle of the Plains of Abraham Battle of Sainte-Foy Siege of Quebec Montreal Campaign Capture of Belle Île Siege of Havana American War of Independence Boston campaign Battle of Bunker Hill New York and New Jersey campaign Battle of Long Island Battle of Harlem Heights Battle of Pell's Point Battle of White Plains Battle of Fort Washington Philadelphia campaign Battle of Short Hills Battle of Cooch's Bridge Battle of Brandywine Battle of the Clouds Battle of Germantown Siege of Fort Mifflin Battle of White Marsh Battle of Barren Hill French Revolutionary Wars

William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB, PC (10 August 1729 – 12 July 1814), was a British Army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British land forces in the Colonies during the American War of Independence. Howe was one of three brothers who had distinguished military careers. In historiography of the American war he is usually referred to as Sir William Howe to distinguish him from his brother Richard, who was 4th Viscount Howe at that time.

Having joined the army in 1746, Howe saw extensive service in the War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War. He became known for his role in the capture of Quebec in 1759 when he led a British force to capture the cliffs at Anse-au-Foulon, allowing James Wolfe to land his army and engage the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Howe also participated in the campaigns to take Louisbourg, Belle Île and Havana. He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Wight, a post he held until 1795.

Howe was sent to North America in March 1775, arriving in May after the American War of Independence broke out. After leading British troops to a costly victory in the Battle of Bunker Hill, Howe took command of all British forces in America from Thomas Gage in September of that year. Howe's record in North America was marked by the successful capture of both New York City and Philadelphia. However, poor campaign planning for 1777 contributed to the failure of John Burgoyne's Saratoga campaign, which played a major role in the entry of France into the war. Howe's role in developing those plans and the degree to which he was responsible for British failures that year (despite his personal success at Philadelphia) have both been subjects of contemporary and historic debate.

He was knighted after his successes in 1776. He resigned his post as Commander-in-Chief, British land forces in America, in 1777, and the next year returned to England, where he was at times active in the defence of the British Isles. He sat in the House of Commons from 1758 to 1780 for Nottingham. He inherited the Viscountcy of Howe upon the death of his brother Richard in 1799. He married, but had no children, and the viscountcy became extinct with his death in 1814.