James L. Howard
James Leland Howard (January 18, 1818 – May 1, 1906) was an American businessman and politician who was the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1887 to 1889.
Early life
James L. Howard was born in Windsor, Vermont, the son of Reverend Leland Howard. He received an academic education and started working as a clerk in New York City at the age of fifteen. In 1838, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he started working in the manufacturing business on his own account in 1841, with his partner Hurlburt, he manufacturing carriage and saddle hardware. They soon added the manufacture of furnishings for railway cars. Howard soon bought out his partner and the company was named James L. Howard & Company in 1876. He was also president of the Hartford City Gas Light Company, director in the Phoenix National Bank, the Traveler’s Insurance Company, the Hartford County Fire Insurance Company, the Retreat for the Insane, the Farmington River Power Company, and several other manufacturing companies. Additionally, he was on the board of directors of the New York & New England Railroad Company.[1][2] The James L. Howard & Company still exists under the name of 1846.[3]
Howard was married, June 1, 1842, to Miss Anna Gilbert, daughter of Joseph B. Gilbert of Hartford.[1]
Political career
Howard was originally a member of the Whig Party, and naturally became a member of the Republicans when that party was formed in 1856.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate to become mayor of Hartford in 1878 and 1880.[4]
In the autumn of 1886, Howard was elected Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut. He served for one two-year period alongside the governor Phineas C. Lounsbury from January 7, 1887 to January 10, 1889.