Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Howard, Edward (d.1841)
HOWARD, EDWARD (d. 1841), novelist, entered the navy, where Captain Marryat was his shipmate (Athenæum, 8 Jan. 1842, p. 41). On obtaining his discharge he became a contributor of sea stories to periodical literature. When Marryat took the editorship of the 'Metropolitan Magazine' in 1832, he chose Howard for his sub-editor (Mrs. Ross Church, Life of Marryat, i. 227). He subsequently joined the staff of the 'New Monthly Magazine,' then edited by Thomas Hood. Howard died suddenly on 30 Dec. 1841. In reviewing Howard's posthumous and best work, `Sir Henry Morgan,' Hood wrote sympathetically of the author as `one of the most able and original-minded men' of the day, who had but 'just felt the true use of his powers when he was called upon to resign them' (New Monthly Magazine, lxiv. 439). In one of the volumes of the same periodical is a portrait of Howard engraved after Osgood by Freeman, with a facsimile of his autograph; it has also been published separately (Evans, Cat. of Engraved Portraits, ii. 210).
Howard's greatest success was his 'Rattlin the Reefer,' 3 vols. 12mo, London, 1836, a maritime novel of considerable power. To insure for it a large sale it was published as 'edited by the author of "Peter Simple,"' and on this account has been erroneously assigned to Marryat. Howard's other works, which were mostly issued as 'by the author of "Rattlin the Reefer,"' are: 1. `The Old Commodore,' 3 vols. 12mo, London, 1837. 2. `Outward Bound; or, a Merchant's Adventures,' 12mo, London, 1838. 3. `Memoirs of Admiral Sir Sidney Smith, K.C.B.,' 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1839. 4. `Jack Ashore,' 3 vols. 12mo, London, 1840. 5. 'The Centiad: a Poem in four books,' 12mo, London, 1841. 6. `Sir Henry Morgan, the Buccaneer,' 3 vols. 12mo, London, 1842 (another edit., 1857). 7. `The Marine Ghost,' in part i. of `Tales from Bentley,' 8vo, 1859.
[Gent. Mag. new ser. xviii. 436; Notes and Queries, 7th ser. vii. 486, viii. 58-9; Cat. of Advocates' Library.]