HOWARD (CHARLES), an able statesman and experienced seaman, was the son of lord William Howard, baron of Effingham, and born in 1536. He served under his father, who was lord high admiral of England, till the accession of queen Elizabeth. In January 1573, he succeeded his father in his title and estate; after which he successively became chamberlain of the household and knight of the garter; and in 1585 was made lord high admiral, at that critical juncture when the Spaniards were sending their ARMADA, in their opinion, to the assured conquest of this kingdom. When he received intelligence of the approach of the Spanish fleet, and saw the prodigious consequence it was to get out the few ships that were ready at Plymouth, he not only gave orders in every thing himself, but wrought also with his own hands, and the first night left the port with six ships. The next morning, though he had only 30 sail, and those the smallest of the fleet, he attacked the Spanish navy; but first dispatched his brother-in-law Sir Edward Hobby, to the queen to desire her to make the proper disposition of her land-forces for the security of the coast, and to hasten as many ships as possible to his assistance. His valor was conspicuously displayed in his repeated attacks of a superior enemy. The coolness of his temper was no less conspicuous; and it was owing to his magnanimity and prudence that the victory was so great. The queen expressed her sense of his merit in the most honourable terms; and granted him a pension for life. In 1596, he commanded in chief at sea, as Essex did by land, the forces sent against Spain, when his prudence and moderation were among the principal causes of the success the English met with in that great and glorious enterprise; so that, upon his return the next year, he was advanced to the dignity of earl of Nottingham.
Howard. The next eminent service in which his Lordship was engaged was in 1599, when the Spaniards seemed to meditate a new invasion. Her majesty, who always placed her safety in being too quick for her enemies, drew together, in a fortnight's time, such a fleet, and such an army, as took away all appearance of success from her foreign and domestic enemies; and she gave the cast the sole and supreme command of both the fleet and army, with the title of lord lieutenant general of all England, an office unknown in succeeding times. When age and infirmity had unfitted him for action, he resigned his office, and spent the remaining part of his life in ease and retirement, till the time of his decease, which happened in 1624, in the 87th year of his age.