1828 - Howe purchased the Novascotian, a local Halifax newspaper and went into the printing business for himself.
- He married Catherine Ann Susan McNab on the 2nd of February.
1836 - He was first elected, campaigning on a platform of support for responsible government.
1840 - He formed a coalition with Conservative leader James William Johnston, hoping to further the cause of responsible government.
1841 - Howe acted as its editor, turning the paper into the most influential in the province.
- He held the office of Speaker of the assembly.
1842 - Collector of excise for Halifax.
1843 - Howe's resignation from the Council.
1844-1846 - He assumed the editorships of both the Novascotian and the Morning Chronicle, making them rallying points for liberal principles.
1853 - He also began a campaign of railway construction, resigning as Provincial Secretary to become Nova Scotia's first Chief Commissioner of Railways; as Commissioner he oversaw the initial construction of the Nova Scotia Railway.
1868 - Having failed to win repeal of Confederation Howe recognized the futility of further protests.
1869 - He was persuaded to join the Canadian Cabinet as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada after receiving a promise of "better terms" for Nova Scotia.
- In November, he became secretary of state for the provinces in which post he played a role in Manitoba's entry into Confederation.
1873 - He resigned his Cabinet post to become lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia.
- Died on the 1st of June in Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax.