Representative James Robinson Howe

James Robinson Howe (January 27, 1839 – September 21, 1914) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York who served two terms in Congress from 1895 to 1899. Over the course of his public career he represented the interests of his constituents during a significant period in American political and economic development and later held important local office in Kings County while remaining active in business and banking.

Howe was born in New York City on January 27, 1839. He attended the common schools of the city, receiving a basic education typical of mid-nineteenth-century urban youth. As a young man he entered the workforce as a clerk in a dry-goods store, gaining early experience in retail trade and commercial practices that would shape his later business pursuits.

In 1870 Howe moved from New York City to Brooklyn, which at that time was an independent city and a growing commercial center. There he engaged in the dry-goods business on his own account, building on his earlier experience as a clerk. His involvement in commerce and local affairs in Brooklyn helped establish his standing in the community and provided a platform for his entry into Republican Party politics.

Howe was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1895, to March 3, 1899. During these two terms he participated in the legislative process at the national level and contributed to debates and votes on issues arising in the late nineteenth century, including matters related to economic policy and the governance of a rapidly industrializing nation. As a member of the House of Representatives, he represented New York constituents and took part in the broader democratic process during a significant period in American history. A member of the Republican Party throughout his congressional career, he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1898, thereby concluding his service in Congress after two consecutive terms.

After leaving Congress, Howe continued in public service and business. He served as Register of Kings County, New York, from 1900 to 1902, an office responsible for maintaining important public records, particularly those related to real estate and property transactions in the county that included Brooklyn. In addition to his official duties, he was a director of several banks, reflecting his continued engagement in the financial and commercial life of his community and his standing in local business circles.

James Robinson Howe died in North Salem, New York, on September 21, 1914. He was interred in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, a burial place for many prominent New Yorkers, thus returning in death to the city where he had built his business career and from which he had risen to national office.