The American Crisis · Character

Sir William Howe

The British general Paine calls the greatest enemy the Tories have, dragging war into the very country they hoped to spare.

supporting

Also known as Howe, General Howe, Sir William Howe, Sir William

First appearance: The Crisis I

As a supporting figure in The American Crisis, Sir William Howe is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

British general whose recent actions are described as 'rather a ravage than a conquest'; Paine warns against his threats and promises of mercy.

In the storyThe Crisis IOpen this moment free

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Howe commands the king's forces in America and, in Paine's telling, is deceived by the Tories even as he deceives them — expecting thousands to flock to his standard with muskets shouldered. His flaw is a kind of overconfident calculation: he stakes everything on taking Philadelphia, and Paine argues that even success there cannot win the continent. He matters because his campaign is the immediate military threat the early Crisis numbers are written to answer.

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See Sir William Howe in The Crisis I

Character Web

16 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

British and Loyalist Opponents
Key Figures and Factions
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the conflic…

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In the story

Sir William Howe appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Crisis I
British general whose recent actions are described as 'rather a ravage than a conquest'; Paine warns against his threats and promises of mercy.
The Crisis IV
Directly addressed by Paine as the British commander whose army is weakening and destined for defeat.
The Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William Howe
Directly addressed by Paine; criticized for retreating into Philadelphia and for the failed attack on Mud Island.
To the Inhabitants of America
Mentioned as the British general whose earlier victories led to defeat, and who is now trapped in Philadelphia.
The Crisis VI: To the Earl of Carlisle, General Clinton, and William Eden, Esq., British Commissioners at New York
Not directly mentioned, but referenced implicitly as part of British command.
Endnotes
Howe is mentioned as a British commissioner and as the commander who occupied Philadelphia; Franklin's remark about Howe is cited.

Chapter companion notes

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See Sir William Howe in The Crisis I