Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Howard, James (1619-1688)
HOWARD, JAMES, third Earl of Suffolk (1619–1688), born on 23 Dec. 1619, was the eldest son of Theophilus, second earl of Suffolk (1584–1640) [q. v.], by Lady Elizabeth, daughter and coheiress of George Home, earl of Dunbar [q. v.] His godfathers were James I and the Duke of Buckingham (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1619-23, p. 170). At the coronation of Charles I on 2 Feb. 1626 he was created K.B. (Metcalfe, Book of Knights, p. 186), and in February 1639, as Lord Walden, became leader of a troop of volunteer horse for the king's army. On 3 June 1640 he succeeded his father as third earl of Suffolk, and on the 16th of the same month was sworn joint lord-lieutenant of Suffolk. The parliament nominated him lord-lieutenant of that county on 28 Feb. 1642 (Commons' Journals, ii. 459). On 28 Dec. 1643 he received a summons to attend the king's parliament at Oxford (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1641-3, p. 508), and on 7 July 1646 was appointed joint commissioner from the parliament to the king at Newcastle (Commons' Journals, iv. 606). Acting on a report from the committee of safety, in September 1647, the commons decided but went no further to impeach Howard, together with six other peers, of high treason (ib. v. 296, 584). On 8 Sept. 1653 Howard was sworn as high steward of Ipswich. After the Restoration he became lord-lieutenant of Suffolk, and of Cambridgeshire on 25 July 1660. From 18 to 24 April 1661 he acted as earl-marshal of England for the coronation of Charles II (Walker, Coronation, p. 46). In the same year he became colonel of the Suffolk regiment of horse militia. On 28 Sept. 1663 he was created M.A. of Oxford (Wood, Fasti Oxon., ed. Bliss, iv. 272), and M.A. of Cambridge on 6 Sept. 1664. He was also appointed governor of Landguard Fort, Essex, gentleman of the bedchamber to the king on 4 March 1665, keeper of the king's house at Audley End, Essex, in March 1667, joint commissioner for the office of earl-marshal of England on 15 June 1673, colonel commandant of three regiments of Cambridgeshire militia in 1678, and was hereditary visitor of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In March 1681 he was discharged from the lord-lieutenancy of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, and from attendance in the king's bedchamber (Luttrell, i. 69). He died in December 1688, and was buried on 16 Jan. 1689 at Saffron Walden, Essex (ib. i. 496). On 1 Dec. 1640 he married Lady Susan Rich, daughter of Henry, first earl of Holland, and by her, who died on 15 May 1649, had a daughter Essex. Howard married secondly, about February 1650, Barbara, daughter of Sir Edward Villiers, knt., and widow of the Hon. Charles Wenman, who died on 13 Dec. 1681 (ib. i. 150, 153), leaving a daughter, Elizabeth. She was groom of the stole to the queen (ib. i. 159). Before 8 May 1682 Howard married as his third wife Lady Anne Montagu, eldest daughter of Robert, third earl of Manchester, but by this lady, who was buried at Saffron Walden on 27 Oct. 1720, had no issue. Howard was succeeded in the title by his brother George (d. 1691).
[Doyle's Official Baronage, iii. 450-2; Cal. Clarendon State Papers, i. 388, 390.]