Howly, Richard, 1740-1784

Richard Howly (1740 – December 1784), sometimes spelled Howley, was an American planter and lawyer from Liberty County, Georgia. He served briefly as the Governor of Georgia in 1780, as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780 and 1781, and as Chief Justice of Georgia in 1782 and 1783.

Born in Liberty County in the Province of Georgia, Howly pursued an academic course, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, commencing practice in St. John's Parish, Georgia and also engaging in the planting of rice. After moving to St. Paul's Parish, Howly served as a member of the executive council of Liberty County in 1779 and 1780, as a member of the State house of representatives from 1779 to 1783, and as Governor of Georgia in 1780. In July 1780, Howly took his seat in the Continental Congress. While there, he assisted in obtaining a new loan from France. His primary interest, however, was to guard against peace proposals that would allow Britain to retain control of Georgia. With fellow Georgia delegates George Walton and William Few, he published Observations upon the Effects of Certain Late Political Suggestions by the Delegates of Georgia.

Howly lost his re-election bid to Congress and returned to Georgia. He was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1782. He was able to acquire confiscated Tory property being sold in Chatham and Liberty counties. Aedanus Burke turned down an offer to become chief justice of Georgia, and in October 1782 Howly was appointed pro tempore chief justice. He represented Liberty County in the general assembly during 1783 and 1784, after which he moved his residence to Savannah.

A devout Roman Catholic, Howly journeyed to St. Augustine in December 1784 to receive sacraments of penance and holy communion that were not available in Georgia. While there, he wrote to Bishop Echevarrio of Cuba requesting that priests from Florida be sent to administer sacraments to Catholics in Georgia. Apparently ill when he returned from Florida, Howly died at his residence in Savannah and was buried in Colonial Park Cemetery there.