John Eliot Howard

Who was John Eliot Howard?

John Eliot Howard was an English chemist of the nineteenth century, who conducted pioneering work with the development of quinine.

Howard was born in Plaistow, London, the son of Luke Howard a noted meteorologist, chemist and Quaker. He worked at the family pharmaceutical manufacturing business of Howards and Sons. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 1874.

He was the author of scientific works including The Quinology of the East Indian Plantations, religious works including a commentary on the book of Hebrews and histories including The Island Of The Saints, about the Reformation in Ireland.

Howard was originally a Quaker, but became connected with Christians meeting at the new Brooks Street Meeting House in Tottenham, now Brook Street Chapel, which was founded in 1838–1839 by a number of other Christians including Howard's brother Robert; his father Luke helped to finance the building of the Chapel: a portrait of the father and son hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

Howard married Maria Crewdson on 9 September 1830 and the couple had seven children, including Joseph Howard, who was later Liberal MP for Tottenham.