He was the only surviving son of George Howard of Great Bookham, by his wife Ann, daughter of Thomas Kidder, of Lewes.
[2][4] His father died on 13 December the same year and his mother on 16 September 1704;[2] Howard would raise a memorial to his parents and their children Henry, Frances and Mary in Great Bookham Church on 26 November 1744.
[6][7] During the War of the Spanish Succession he served in the Netherlands and Germany under the Duke of Marlborough,[8] and in 1707 was present as a captain in Wade's Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Almanza, where he was taken prisoner.
[8][13] Howard was dismissed for his political opinions, but was reinstated by King George I,[11] and in 1717 he purchased the colonelcy of the 24th Regiment of Foot, succeeding General Primrose.
[2][19] His will was dated 14 November 1752 and was proved on 11 April 1753:[2][20] in it he left the house in Savile Street and his property at Tettenhall Regis to his wife, and the rest of his estate to his eldest son George.