Michael Howe was born in Pontefract, Yorkshire possibly in 1787. At 24 years he was arrested, tried and transported for highway robbery and arrived in Hobart Town on October 19,1812.

While assigned to John Ingle he bolted and joined a gang led by John Whitehead. The gang raided many properties around Hobart Town. Howe was universally hated and feared in Tasmania because of his viciousness and callous behaviour, burning barns, and attacking homes, and shooting pursuers

His attack of a tribe of Aborigines to steal 'wives' for himself and his gang, resulted in the shooting of many Aborigines and set off reprisals against surrounding settlers.

During the many skirmishes between Howe's gang and the soldiers many of Howes accomplices were shot, but he always managed to escape.

He was killed in a fight which resulted when a kangaroo hunter named Warburton led William Pugh, John Worrall and another soldier to Howe's camp.

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