Originally published on February 17, 2022 (Bonus Episode)
Introduction
The Howe family was at the heart of Britain’s long eighteenth century. Connected to the Hanoverian ruling family by blood, they were addicted to Whig politics, high society, warfare, statecraft—and to writing letters. Across no fewer than four wars, Howe men bled and died for Britain, leading ships, regiments, fleets, and armies from Savoy and the western approaches of the Atlantic, to the walls of Fort Ticonderoga and Quebec, to the plains of India and marshes of Brooklyn. Meanwhile, in England, the women of the Howe family advanced the clan’s fortunes in the drawing rooms and corridors of power.
With me to describe the Howes and their significance to Britain and America is Julie Flavell, author of The Howe Dynasty: The Untold Story of a Military Family and the Women Behind Britain’s Wars for America (Liveright, 2021). Based on previously overlooked or unconsidered sources, Flavell provides both an exciting narrative and a comprehensive reassessment of this remarkable family.
About the Guest
Julie Flavell is a historian specializing in Anglo-American relations during the eighteenth century. She is also the author of When London Was Capital of America (Yale University Press, 2010).
For Further Investigation
Julie Flavell, The Howe Dynasty: The Untold Story of a Military Family and the Women Behind Britain’s Wars for America (Liveright, 2021)
Julie Flavell, When London Was Capital of America (Yale University Press, 2010)
Mark Tully, A Brief Discourse on 18th-Century Games
💬 Listen & Discuss
How should we think about the Howes—as competent commanders undone by circumstance, or as a family that misjudged America at the most critical moment? Share your reflections in the comments and pass this episode along to a friend interested in the Revolution.
