Benjamin Hunting Howell

Who is Benjamin Hunting Howell?

Benjamin Hunting Howell was an American rower who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta and the Wingfield Sculls in 1898 and 1899.

Howell was born in New York the son of Frederick Hunting Howell of Wall Street, New York and his wife Katherine Van Liew Howell. He was educated at the Military College in America and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, England. In 1897 he rowed in the Cambridge boat in the Boat Race in the penultimate in a ten year series of wins by Oxford. He challenged in the Wingfield Sculls in 1897 but lost to Harry Blackstaffe. In 1898, he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley and the Wingfield Sculls, beating Harry Blackstaffe in both. He joined Thames Rowing Club and won the Diamond Challenge Sculls and the Wingfield Sculls beating Blackstaffe again in 1899. In 1900 he lost the Diamond Sculls to Edward Hemmerde, and the Wingfield Sculls to Blackstaffe.

Howell became a manufacturer of Tuxedo Park, New York. When his mother died in 1911 she made him the major legatee of her will because "he bestowed care on me during my illness while his brother and sister quite neglected me".