Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham

Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham, PC (13 January 1746 – 19 November 1791), styled Lord Howard until 1763, was a British nobleman and Army officer, the son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Effingham, and his wife Elizabeth.

Lord Howard was commissioned an ensign and lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment of Foot Guards on 20 February 1762. He was promoted to captain in the 5th Regiment of Foot on 13 September 1765.[1]

He is best known for resigning his commission in protest against the war against the North American colonies.[2][3] This widely reported act was commemorated by the North American colonists in the naming of a galley in 1775, and later the frigate USS Effingham in 1777, as well as in the naming of Effingham, New Hampshire, Effingham County, Georgia, and Effingham County, Illinois.

During the events leading up to the American Revolution, the Earl was neither a Patriot or a Loyalist, he was a Neutralist; he was not on either side. The Earl of Effingham disliked both sides: the royal government for taxing, and the colonists for rebelling. Howard believed that the conflicts had a negative impact on Great Britain and the colonies. He was devoted to his King and country, and was willing to lose his life while protecting the realm from attack.

In 1785, a London newspaper reported that he was being considered for the role of minister to the United States, to reciprocate John Adams coming to Great Britain to serve as Ambassador.[4] However, he did not go to America; George Hammond later served as the first envoy to America.

He died at the age of 45, while serving as Governor of Jamaica, a month and five days after his wife, leaving no heir. His title passed to his brother Richard.