Benjamin Howard

Overview

At a Glance

• Organized a company of rangers under the command of Nathan Boone
• Ordered construction of blockhouses and small forts in remote areas of the territory to defend agains Native American hostilities 

Personal History

Benjamin Howard was born around 1760, near what is today Lexington, Kentucky. In the 1770s, his father, John, acquired large tracts of land in what’s now Boonesborough, Kentucky. Following, the family moved to that community originally founded by frontiersman Daniel Boone.

After attending the College of William and Mary, Howard practiced law in Lexington. During the Northwest Indian War of the 1790s, Howard served as a soldier and officer. This conflict shaped the character and development of the American frontier. 

After resigning as governor in March 1813, Howard took command of the 8th Military Department as brigadier general, which included all territory west of the Mississippi River. In September 1813, Gen. Howard led a force of 1,400 men against British-allied Potawatomi Native Americans near present-day Peoria, Illinois. When American forces arrived, the two targeted villages were abandoned, and a garrison stockade was erected at the site.

Later, Gen. William Henry Harrison (9th president of the United States) ordered Howard to report to Cincinnati to prepare for taking command of troops in Detroit. However, protests from the territory caused the order to be overruled. Howard returned to St. Louis in fall 1814, where he succumbed to illness and died.

Political History

In 1800, Howard was elected to the Kentucky legislature, and from 1807 to 1810, he represented the state in Congress. Reportedly, Howard was a strong proponent of increased U.S. military strength.

On April 10, 1810, Pres. James Madison named Howard as successor to explorer Meriwether Lewis as governor of Louisiana Territory. In June 1812, Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory, following creation of the state of Louisiana. That same month war broke out between Great Britain and the United States. In spring 1813, Howard had to decide between accepting a commission as brigadier general in the Army and continuing as governor. Howard chose the military commission and resigned as governor in March 1813. Howard was originally buried in Old Grace Church Graveyard before being reinterred in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Howard arrived in St. Louis in September 1810. Because of increased hostilities with Native Americans, Howard coordinated with explorer William Clark, commander of the territorial militia, to construct blockhouses and small forts as defenses in the more remote areas of the territory. Howard also organized a company of rangers under the command of Nathan Boone, youngest son of Daniel Boone.

Historical Significance

In 1816, the newly formed Howard County of Missouri was named in his honor.