Author: Howard, Frederick
Biography:
HOWARD, Frederick (1748-1825: ODNB)
He was the youngest and only surviving son of Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle, and his second wife, Isabella Byron, daughter of the 4th Lord Byron. In 1758 he became 5th Earl of Carlisle on his father’s death. He was educated at Eton College and entered King’s College, Cambridge, in 1764 but stayed for just a year before departing on a Grand Tour of Europe. Although a taciturn man, he developed a reputation as a heavy gambler and womaniser. In 1770 he took his seat in the House of Lords; in the same year he married Margaret Caroline Leveson-Gower with whom he had four sons and three daughters (one son died at the Battle of Waterloo). He was sent on a peace mission to America in 1778; the mission failed but, despite this, he was made president of the Board of Trade in 1779 and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1780. In moving to Dublin, he took with him William Eden as chief secretary and established a colourful and lively court. Politically, he worked to maintain the status quo and head off any push for legislative independence by making small concessions. However, he resigned his position following the collapse of Lord North’s ministry in 1782 and returned to London. He was Lord Steward of the household under Lord Shelburne but resigned in 1783 over the terms of the peace treaty with America. He subsequently served in opposition to William Pitt’s government. During the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland he described the country as “a ship on fire” that must be extinguished or cut loose. In 1799 he assumed the thankless task of being guardian to his cousin, the young Lord Byron (q.v.), enduring a mixed relationship with both the poet and his mother. Byron’s verse criticisms of his guardian have proven distinctly more memorable than Howard’s own poetry which was, however, admired in its time including by Samuel Johnson. He died at Castle Howard and was buried there. His son, George Howard (q.v.) succeeded him as the 6th Earl. (ODNB 19 Mar. 2021; DIB 19 Mar. 2021)
Other Names:
- Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle
- Federick Earl of Carlisle
- Frederick, Earl of Carlisle
- the Earl of Carlisle