William Roe Howell (April 9, 1846 - December 30, 1890) was a New York City photographer of the 1870s, known mostly for portraits of political and theatrical celebrities.
Was awarded a special grand prize at the World's Fair held in Vienna, Austria (Weltausstellung 1873 Wien).
His wife admitted he was an eccentric man and was bothered by his business partner for spending too much money.
Howell moved back to New York around 1889 and died in 1890 of tuberculosis at the home of fellow photographer, Lawrence Perkinson.
Howell died when he was 44 and never gained the name recognition that other contemporary photographers have attained such as Mathew Brady or Napoleon Sarony.