More Than a Printer – John Howe’s Lifelong Service to Nova Scotia

John Howe (1754–1835), a Loyalist from Boston, arrived in Halifax in 1780. On January 5, 1781, he began publishing a weekly newspaper, the Halifax Journal. The paper continued until 1819, when it was sold to John Munro. Around 1790, Howe also launched the monthly Nova-Scotia Magazine and Comprehensive Review of Literature, Politics, and News. This magazine encouraged young authors to submit their original works and was edited and assembled by William Cochran of Windsor, Nova Scotia. Despite its early promise, the magazine ceased publication in 1792 due to a lack of support. Nevertheless, Howe continued to print books and pamphlets addressing the political and religious controversies of the time.

In 1801, Howe succeeded Anthony Henry as King’s Printer, taking on the responsibility of printing the Nova Scotia Royal Gazette, which was originally called The Halifax Gazette, Canada’s first newspaper. In addition to being the leading printer in Nova Scotia, he was appointed postmaster and served Nova Scotia for many years. He took on John Ryan as his apprentice, who would later print the first newspaper in New Brunswick and later became King’s Printer in Newfoundland.

Before to coming to Nova Scotia, John Howe had worked as a printer for the British Forces in Newport, Rhode Island during the American War of Independence, maintaining his loyalty to Britain. In 1803, at the start of the Napoleonic Wars, Great Britain began boarding and searching American ships trading with France. Sir George Prevost, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, asked Howe to travel to the United States to assess whether the United States was considering war against Britain. Under the guise of visiting family and friends, Howe traveled to Boston in 1808 and 1809. He reported that war could be avoided if Britain lifted its blockade and tariffs on ships entering French ports. However, he warned that if these measures persisted, war was inevitable, and attacks on British North American colonies were likely. Howe’s predictions proved accurate when the United States declared war on Britain in 1812, initiating the War of 1812 and launching attacks on Canada.

In 1818, he retired as King's Printer and Postmaster but continued to serve as a magistrate. He helped his son, the Honourable Joseph Howe with his paper, The Novascotian. John Howe died in in 1835 in Halifax. and is buried in the Old Burying Ground, Halifax.

Sepia-toned portrait of a man in formal attire, possibly an old photograph or print.

Timeline of John Howe

•1754 – Born in Boston, Massachusetts.

• American Revolution (c.1775–1780) – Works as a printer for the British forces in Newport, Rhode Island.

• 1780 – Arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

• January 5, 1781 – Launches the Halifax Journal.

• c.1790 – Establishes the Nova-Scotia Magazine.

• 1792 – Magazine ceases publication due to lack of support.

• 1801 – Appointed King’s Printer, succeeding Anthony Henry. Begins printing the Nova Scotia Royal Gazette.

• 1803 – Britain begins searching American ships; Howe is later asked to assess U.S. sentiment.

• 1808–1809 – Travels to Boston to gather intelligence on the likelihood of war with Britain.

• 1812 – War of 1812 begins, confirming Howe’s predictions.

• 1818 – Retires as King’s Printer and Postmaster; continues to serve as magistrate and helps with The Novascotian.

• 1835 – Dies in Halifax; buried in the Old Burying Ground.

Title page of "The Nova-Scotia Magazine and Comprehensive Review" from 1790, Volume II. It includes literature, politics, and news from Great Britain, Ireland, and America. Printed in Halifax by John Howe.

Title page of The Nova-Scotia Magazine and Comprehensive Review of Literature, Politics and News printed by John Howe. Dated M.DCC.XC or 1790.

Image Sources

The Halifax Journal
Halifax Journal (1780). New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project, https://newspapers.lib.unb.ca/node/376

Nova-Scotia Magazine
Toronto Public Libraries, (1940, p.22), Canadian Book of Printing: How Printing Came to Canada and the Story of the Graphic Arts, Told Mainly in Pictures, Toronto Public Libraries, 500th Anniversary Committee.

John Howe, Wm. Notman (photographer), no. 60690, Sydenham Howe Scrapebook, Joseph Howe and His World, Nova Scotia Archives.

References

Toronto Public Libraries, (1940), Canadian Book of Printing: How Printing Came to Canada and the Story of the Graphic Arts, Told Mainly in Pictures, Toronto Public Libraries, 500th Anniversary Committee.

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, November 22). John Howe (loyalist). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Howe_(loyalist)&oldid=1259000189