Norfolk renounced his
Catholicism to start his political life, but remained a staunch supporter of
Catholic Emancipation, as well as opposing the
war with the American colonies. He sat in Parliament from 1780 to 1784 and became a lord of the treasury in the Portland cabinet in 1783. He succeeded to the title of 11th Duke of Norfolk in 1786 upon the death of his father. Eventually, he was dismissed from the lord lieutenancy of the West Riding in 1798 for toasting “Our sovereign’s health—the majesty of the people” in terms displeasing to George III. Norfolk wrote
Historical Anecdotes of some of the Howard Family (1769 and 1817). He was a good friend of
Sir Bysshe Shelley, allowing him in 1786 to make out the patent for his
baronetcy. It was said that his servants would wait for him to fall asleep and then douse him with water. In his
Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,
Thomas De Quincey refers to him as saying, "Next Monday, wind and weather permitting, I purpose to be drunk." == Family tree ==