Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Robert Howe (Continental Army officer)

Robert Howe (Continental Army officer)
This nomination predates the introduction in April 2014 of article-specific subpages for nominations and has been created from the edit history of Today's featured article/requests. 
 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/December 29, 2013 by BencherliteTalk 22:03, 19 December 2013‎ (UTC)



Robert Howe (1732–86) was a Continental Army general from North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. He was one of only five general officers, and the only major general, in the Continental Army from that state. At the outset of the war, he was appointed a brigadier general in the Continental Army, and eventually became commander of the Southern Department. His early military career was contentious and consumed by conflict with political and military leaders in Georgia and South Carolina. These confrontations, including a 1778 duel with Christopher Gadsden, and Howe's reputation as a womanizer eventually led to his removal from command over the Southern Department. Prior to the formal turnover of his command, Howe commanded the Continental Army and Patriot militia forces in defeat in the First Battle of Savannah. He later sat as a senior officer on the court-martial board that sentenced British officer John André, a co-conspirator of Benedict Arnold, to death. Howe himself was accused of attempting to defect to the British, but the accusations were cast aside at the time as a British stratagem. He died in December 1786 after being elected to the North Carolina House of Commons.

235th anniversary of the most important battle of his career; topic of American Revolution hasn't been seen in 3 months prior (although 18th Century military history writ large has -- naval Battle of the Nile was October 21); interesting character who fought a duel and was suspected of attempted treason.  Cdtew  (talk) 15:38, 11 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support, certainly educational and high historic and encyclopedic value. High quality article, FA promoted in 2013. Cheers, &mdash; Cirt (talk) 15:57, 11 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Last American Revolutionary War article was 4th July; Battle of the Nile is a rather different kettle of fish, so probably gets a bonus point for 2 points. Blurb length spot-on. BencherliteTalk 20:22, 11 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support per Cirt Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 19:40, 28 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Support, in complete agreement with the assessment above by Cirt.--ColonelHenry (talk) 16:03, 10 December 2013 (UTC)

What's a "major general"? An important general? Or a type of rank? Howunusual (talk) 20:50, 13 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Is it Major general (United States)? Chris857 (talk) 20:58, 13 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes, A major general is a very specific military rank. As is brigadier general, a rank which may be unfamiliar to readers in many countries. I have linked them. Hawkeye7 (talk) 21:06, 13 December 2013 (UTC)