British General Sir William Howe William Howe served as commander in chief in America from 1775 to 1778. A prior deployment during the Seven Years’ War gave him warm respect for the New England colonists; he never stopped hoping for reconciliation. He won limited battles but declined to pursue decisive victories. He issued thousands of pardons to individual rebels. Resigning before being fired, he traveled home to defend his reputation.
Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University.