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Back to article: JOSEPH HOWE (1804–1873)

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HOWE, JOSEPH (1804–1873), Canadian statesman, was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the r3th of December 1804, the son of John Howe (1752–1835), a United Empire Loyalist whq was for many years king's printer and postmaster-general for the Maritime Provinces and the Bermudas. He received little regular education, and at the age of 13 entered his father's office. In 1827 he started the Acadian, a weekly non-political journa, but soon sold it, and in 1828 purchased the Nova Scotian, which later became amalgamated with the Morning Chronicle. From this date he devoted increasing attention to political affairs, and in 1835 was prosecuted for libelling the magistrates of Halifax. Being unable to find a lawyer willing to undertake his case, he pleaded it himself, and won his acquittal by a speech of over six hours, which secured for Nova Scotia the freedom of the press and for himself the reputation of an orator. In 1836 he was elected member for Halifax in the provincial assembly, and during the next twelve years devoted himself to attaining