44 Facts About Joseph Howe

Joseph Howe was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, public servant, and poet.

Joseph Howe was born the son of John Howe and Mary Edes at Halifax and inherited from his loyalist father an undying love for Great Britain and her Empire.

At age 23, the self-taught but widely read Joseph Howe purchased the Novascotian, soon making it into a popular and influential newspaper.

Joseph Howe reported extensively on debates in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and travelled to every part of the province writing about its geography and people.

In 1835, Joseph Howe was charged with seditious libel, a serious criminal offence, after the Novascotian published a letter attacking Halifax politicians and police for pocketing public money.

Joseph Howe addressed the jury for more than six hours, citing numerous examples of civic corruption.

The next year, Joseph Howe was elected to the assembly as a liberal reformer, beginning a long and eventful public career.

Joseph Howe was instrumental in helping Nova Scotia become the first British colony to win responsible government in 1848.

Joseph Howe served as premier of Nova Scotia from 1860 to 1863 and led the unsuccessful fight against Canadian Confederation from 1866 to 1868.

Joseph Howe became the third Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia in 1873, but died after only three weeks in office.

In 1801, Joseph Howe was rewarded for his loyalty by appointment as the King's Printer and in 1803 he became deputy postmaster for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

In 1798, John Howe in married Mary Edes; their son Joseph was born at Halifax on December 13,1804.

Joseph Howe married Catherine Ann Susan McNab on February 2,1828.

Joseph Howe acted as its editor until 1841, turning the paper into the most influential in the province.

The outraged civic politicians had Joseph Howe charged with seditious libel, a serious criminal offence.

Joseph Howe's case seemed hopeless since truth was not a defence.

The prosecution had only to prove that Joseph Howe had published the letter.

When Haliburton missed with his shot, Joseph Howe "deloped" deliberately missing by firing his gun in the air.

Joseph Howe was first elected in 1836, campaigning on a platform of support for responsible government.

Joseph Howe initially proposed only an elected legislative council but he was quick to agree with the concept of a fully representative government.

Joseph Howe was suspicious of formal political parties feeling that they were too restrictive.

Joseph Howe formed a coalition with Conservative leader James William Johnston in 1840 hoping to further the cause of responsible government.

Joseph Howe held the office of Speaker of the assembly in 1841 and collector of excise for Halifax in 1842.

Joseph Howe assumed the post of Provincial Secretary, adapting existing institutions to the new system of government.

Joseph Howe began a campaign of railway construction, resigning as Provincial Secretary in 1853 to become Nova Scotia's first Chief Commissioner of Railways; as Commissioner he oversaw the initial construction of the Nova Scotia Railway.

The Liberals did not return to power until 1860 at which time Joseph Howe became provincial secretary.

Joseph Howe served as Premier until 1863 when he accepted the position of Imperial Fisheries Commissioner.

Joseph Howe led Nova Scotia's anti-Confederation movement believing the Quebec Resolutions to be bad for the province.

Joseph Howe learned that Charles Tupper planned to force the Confederation Resolution through the legislature.

When he failed to prevent passage of the resolution Joseph Howe began a vigorous campaign for repeal by delegations to London and then publishing a variety of anti-Confederation papers and pamphlets.

Joseph Howe led the anti-Confederates in the House of Commons of Canada where he made a speech about his opposition to confederation.

Joseph Howe refused to contemplate secession from the Canadian Confederation nor American annexation because of his loyalty to Britain.

Joseph Howe ran in the great Hants County by election of 1869 to create better terms for Nova Scotia within Canada rather than continue to seek repeal of Confederation.

In 1869 Joseph Howe joined the Canadian Cabinet as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada after receiving a promise of "better terms" for Nova Scotia.

Joseph Howe resigned his Cabinet post to become the 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia post Confederation in 1873.

Joseph Howe died in office only a few weeks after his appointment.

Joseph Howe is buried in Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Joseph Howe created a substantial body of poetry, much of it related to his appreciation of Nova Scotia and its history.

Joseph Howe later married Catherine Susan Ann McNab, daughter of Captain John McNab, Nova Scotia Regiment of Fencible Infantry, on February 2,1828.

Joseph Howe was born in 1808 in the barracks at the entrance to the harbour of St John's, Newfoundland, where her father was in command of the troops.

Joseph Howe lived with her father on McNab's Island, which had previously been occupied by her uncle, Peter McNab.

Joseph Howe died in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, July 6,1890, and is buried alongside her husband in Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax.

Joseph Howe had ten children with Catherine Susan Ann McNab.

On Mr Joseph Howe being called to the Privy Council andappointed President of that body, 19 January 1869.