Robert Howe was born 1795 in London the son of Mary McLeay & George Howe a convict who started Australia's first newspaper. Robert & his mother Mary were able to embark with George Howe on the convict ship The Royal Admiral. Mary died on the way just before reaching Sydney George & Robert arrived at Sydney in November 1800.
Robert was dissipated as a young man and in 1819 fathered an illegitimate son with Elizabeth Lee. Next year, however, he experienced a spiritual awakening and, in his own words, was 'wonderfully and mercifully visited by God and snatched from infamy in this world and Hell in the next'. In the meantime, in 1821 Robert Howe had married the colonial-born Ann Bird, who finally agreed to rear Robert's natural son as her own. She bore him four more children, Robert Mansfield, Alfred Australia, Ann Wesley and Mary McLeay, whose names commemorated the strongest influences in Howe's life.
In 1827 he made a will in which he left most of his estate to his natural son and £100 a year to his wife. Next year he revoked this and left his wife an 'equal division' of his effects which amounted to over £10,000. Contemplating retirement, he installed Mansfield as co-editor of the Gazette. After Robert died his widow Ann became the proprietor of the paper.
Robert Howe drowned 29 Jan 1829 near Pinchgut Island now known as Fort Denison in Sydney Harbour. He had gone fishing with his son Alfred Australia Howe & a servant named William. A strong wind overturned the boat. Robert tried to save Alfred, but became exhausted. William was able to swim for help. The crew of the brig "Alice" found Alfred floating senseless, but still alive. Robert`s body was recovered later. The fishing lines had become entwined around his body like a net, his wrists tightly laced together and a small food basket had attached itself to his head with the handle passing under his chin
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