The latter was the son of the Right Reverend Robert Howard, Lord Bishop of Elphin, and represented the County Wicklow in the Irish Parliament.
After succeeding in the earldom in 1815 he resumed the same year by Royal licence the surname of Howard after that of Forward.
When he died unmarried at an early age the titles passed to his younger brother, the sixth Earl.
When he died the titles passed to his son, the eighth Earl, who moved in literary and artistic circles and was a close friend of Evelyn Waugh.
Shortly thereafter financial difficulties forced the 8th Earl to sell the estate to the Irish State.