HOWE (John), a learned English nonconformist divine born in 1630. He became minister of Great Torrington in Devonshire, and was appointed household chaplain to Cromwell; but seems to have been free from the fanaticism then in fashion, as he offended Cromwell greatly by preaching against the notion of particular faith which the ministers of his court were great advocates for. When Oliver died, he continued chaplain to Richard; and when Richard was deposed, he returned to Torrington, where he continued till the act of uniformity took place and set him aside. He afterwards settled at Utrecht, until the declaration for liberty of conscience was published by king James II. under shelter of which he returned to London, where he died in 1705. He published a great number of sermons and religious works, which have been reprinted together in one volume folio.
Howe-Island, a small island of the South Sea, discovered by Captain Wallis, called by the inhabitants of the Society-Island Mopaha; lies in S. Lat. 16. 46. and W. Long. 154. 8.