Born at Montreal, the only son of Dr Robert Palmer Howard, Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Medicine, McGill University, and one of the three teachers Sir William Osler recalled as having most influence on his mind in his early years. When Howard began studying at the McGill University, Sir William Osler was Professor of Medicine and remained his friend. Howard graduated brilliantly, gaining 320 out of a possible 350 marks, and then went for further study to the London Hospital, and along with Osler to Berlin, Vienna, and Leipzig. He was next for some years associated with his father in practice at Montreal, was Demonstrator of Anatomy and Surgery in McGill University in 1883, Assistant Surgeon and Pathologist at Montreal Hospital, and Surgeon to the Dispensary. During the South African War he worked at the Guards' Hospital, Rochester Row. Later he practised in London as a laryngologist at 31 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, but after some years retired to his country houses at Gleneve and at Debden in Essex. During the War (1914-1918) he organized and supervised the Mount Royal Hospital for Officers at Bath, and also worked at the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, for which he was awarded the OBE. He died after a long and painful illness at his town house, 46 Green Street, W, on January 9th, 1921. He had married in 1888 the only daughter of Sir Donald Smith, afterwards Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, and they had as family three sons and two daughters. His eldest son served during the War, the second was killed in action, and the third was severely wounded. He was survived by his wife, who, as heir to her father, became Lady Strathcona, and on her death the elder of the two sons succeeded to the barony as Lord Strathcona.