James Howell
James Howell was an English author and administrator born in 1594, the son of a Welsh clergyman. He completed his education at Jesus College, Oxford, and initially worked for a glass manufacturer before serving as a secretary and instructor for various royal families. His career took him across Europe, where he engaged in commercial and diplomatic activities, including negotiations in Spain and work with the foreign service in Denmark and France. Howell's aspirations for royal patronage led him to secure the position of secretary to the Privy Council just before the outbreak of the English Civil War, a role he ultimately could not fulfill due to the conflict.
During his life, Howell faced difficulties, including imprisonment due to debts or charges of disloyalty, from which he was released in 1651. He authored several works while in prison, notably his well-regarded "Familiar Letters" or "Epistolae Ho-Elianae," which provide insights into seventeenth-century British life and reflect his views, including his stance against Puritanism. Howell’s contributions to literature and his experiences form an interesting part of the historical narrative of that era.
On this Page
Subject Terms
James Howell
Historian
- Born: c. 1594
- Birthplace: Abernant, Carmarthenshire, Wales
- Died: November 1, 1666
Biography
James Howell was born in England in 1594. He was the son of a Welsh clergyman. For much of his life, he was overshadowed by his elder brother, Thomas Howell, who was the Bishop of Bristol. In 1613, he received a bachelor’s degree from Jesus College at Oxford. After graduation, Howell was employed as an administrator for a glass manufacturer, and as a secretary and instructor for several royal families. In his role as a factory agent, Howell traveled extensively through Europe, and as a result, spoke several languages fluently. He was involved in commercial transactions in Venice, diplomatic negotiations in Spain, and was temporarily employed by the foreign service in Denmark and France. As well, he held an administrative post in York, served briefly in Parliament, and was sent on a confidential mission from Dublin to Edinburgh and London.
Howell was most interested in obtaining royal patronage, and he secured a position as secretary to the Privy Council on the eve of the English Civil War. However, the war prevented him from ever serving in this capacity. Howell was arrested either for his debts, or for his disloyalty, and spent the next several years in prison, finally securing his release in 1651.
Howell published his first book, Dodona’s Grove in 1640, an allegorical history of England and Europe. Between 1642 and 1651, while still in prison, he continued to write books in addition to his prolific letter writing. Howell is best remembered for his Familiar Letters or, Epistolae Ho-Elianae, a collection of writings about seventeenth century British life which can be categorized as historical. The letters are written on a number of topics, including Howell’s anti-Puritan views and his reflections on his own life.