Howe was born in Newcastle in England, where he received a primary education.

He migrated to Australia in 1882 and became a patternmaker and engineer, working for many years at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard.

He was Sydney district secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and represented the union before the Industrial Court in an early award inquiry.

He recovered for some time, but became ill again in late 1914, and died at his Balmain house in April 1915.

This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the House of Representatives is a stub.