Howard was born in Lexington, Kentucky and graduated in 1797 from William and Mary College. He was elected to the Kentucky General Assembly in 1800. He served in the 10th and 11th Congresses from Kentucky from 1807 until April 10, 1810, when on April 17, 1810, James Madison appointed him Governor of Louisiana Territory (the Louisiana Purchase district north of modern day Louisiana) which was renamed Missouri Territory in June 1812. Howard County, Missouri is named for him.