Career
He represented 4th Prince in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1859 to 1876 as a Conservative member. He was born in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, the son of James Howatt. Howatt was speaker for the provincial assembly from 1874 to 1876.
With Augustus Holland, he supported a motion opposing union with Canada in 1873 even though, by that time, union was considered by most as inevitable.
He died at North Saint Eleanors in 1895.