Thomas Henry Howell, Mayor of Newport 1898 - 1899
Photo reference number: 2282
Photo and text from Johns's Newport Directory 1899.
Thomas Henry Howell, J.P., who was unanimously elected Mayor for 1898-9 is practically a Newport man, having spent the whole of his life in this town with the exception of the first six months of his infancy. The son of the late Captain Thomas Howell, of Lochfan, Pembrokeshire he was born at Liverpool, on June 18th, 1840, and was educated principally at the late Mr. Nicholl's school at Overton House, Newport. When 14 years old he entered the office of Messrs. S. M. & H. Phillips, Iron and Oil merchants, and ten years later became their traveller, covering the whole of the mining districts of South Wales. In 1879 the surviving partner, retiring, Mr. Howell purchased the business, and has since successfully carried it on. The Mayor, who is a thorough Welshman, speaks the language of his fathers. He is a member of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church and for a long period was closely identified with Ebenezer Church, Newport, having been Church secretary and Sunday-school secretary for about 20 years. Although retaining his membership of the Welsh Church, since 1880 he has worshipped more or less at the Commercial Street Baptist Church where his wife and children are members. In 1865 His Worship was married at Holy Trinity, Oxford, to a lady of that city, and has a family of six sons and four daughters. The Mayor was first elected to the Town Council in 1888 at a bye-election for the North Ward, which ward he has since continuously represented. During the last three or four years he has been a member of the Parliamentary, Watch, and Finance Committees. Almost as soon as he became a Councillor Mr. Howell took a warm interest in the Science and Art Classes, as well-as those of the Technical School, and in his younger days was an active member of the Newport Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute. He served as Chairman of the Technical Instruction Committee for two years, and in 1897 was unanimously chosen Chairman of the Free Library Committee. Mr. Howell is a Governor of the University College at Cardiff, and also Governor of the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London. In 1896 he received his appointment as Justice of the Peace for the Borough. In politics the Chief Magistrate is a Liberal. As a life-long abstainer the Newport Temperance Society honoured him by making him their president in 1896-7.
