Sir Jonn Howard had a remarkable career. He was born in Liverpool, of poor parents, and when a young man became interested in several engineering undertakings, mainly on the South Coast. At Brighton, he was instrumental in building the Palace Pier, one of the most beautiful features of the sea-front. , which took the place of the old Chain Pier, washed away many years ago. He also became connected in various capacities with railway enterprise. He was partly responsible for the construction of railways in East Anglia, as also for railways in the Colne Valley, for the Andover and Redbridge and the Bognor. Midhurst and - Mid-Sussex Railways. He was likewise . interested in the formation of the Government Dockyard at Keyham. Devonport.
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In 1912 the Brighton Herald announced that a sum of £40,000 had been anonymously offered for a charitable object, and it subsequently transpired that this money was the gift of Sir Jobn. It was decided to utilise it for the erection of a convalescent home, situated near the sea, just past the Eastern boundary, and on the road to Rottingdean. In addition to providing free accommodation for poor convalescents, the Home makes provision for paying patients, as well as providing a room where minor operations can be performed in the case of patients who are not sufficiently poor to be eligible for the charity of the County Hospital, but are yet unable to afford the fees of a private nursing home.
Shortly after the outbreak of war the Home was take-over by the Government as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Subsequently the hospital was visited, by the King, and Sir John had the honour of conducting His Majesty over a tour of inspection. Sir John's most recent benefaction to Brighton took the form of a gift of £30,000 "for establishing twenty-four Cottage Homes in the adjoining grounds for nurses incapacitated through ill-health or age.
Sir John had, for many years, maintained a private charity of his own at 4, Richmond Terrace. Here some sixty poor widows and old people received every week a pension of a few shillings. The Institution came to be known as the. "Howard Charity," and was ultimately endowed by Sir John, so that the beneficent work will continue after his death. Sir John was a liberal contributor to local Hospitals and charities and the Brighton Synagogue war funds. He was for very many years a member of the West London Synagogue, , where he worshipped when in London. He was likewise a frequent attendant at the Synagogue in Edinburgh, when his duties in connection with the North British Railway Company took him to Scotland.