He distinguished himself at the Battle of Worcester on Oliver Cromwell's side and made a member of the council of state in 1653, chosen captain of the protector's bodyguard and selected to carry out various public duties.

[2] In 1655 Howard was given a regiment, was appointed a commissioner to try the northern rebels, and a deputy major-general of Cumberland, Westmorland and Northumberland.

[2] In 1657 he was included in Cromwell's House of Lords and voted for the protector's assumption of the royal title the same year.

[citation needed] In 1678 he was appointed governor of Jamaica, but his instructions to introduce Poynings' Law to the island were successfully opposed by planters elected to the Jamaican Assembly.

However, when they were deported back to England, Beeston and Long successfully argued their case, and the governor's instructions were cancelled.