George William Howlan (May 19, 1835 – May 11, 1901) was an Irish-born merchant, ship owner and political figure in Prince Edward Island.

He represented Alberton division in the Senate of Canada from 1873 to 1894 and was the province's sixth Lieutenant Governor from 1894 to 1899.

However, he supported railway building in the province and the resulting debt load forced the island to reconsider union with Canada.

In 1873, Howlan ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons but was named to the Senate that same year.

Also in 1891, he went to England as a representative of the province to discuss with engineers there the feasibility of a tunnel connecting the island to the mainland.