Michael Howe (c.1787 – 21 October 1818) was a notorious convict who became a leading bushranger in what is now Tasmania, Australia. Noted for his ability to evade authorities and for the size and organisation of his band, he adopted the self-styled title "Lieutenant Governor of the Woods" and left behind a manuscript he called the Journal of Dreams.

Origins and transportation

Howe arrived in the penal settlement after conviction in Britain, part of the wider transportation system that sent many offenders to Van Diemen's Land in the early 19th century. Like other escapees, he took to the bush where remote terrain and sparse policing made guerrilla-style raiding possible.

Leadership and activities

He led a group of escaped convicts and disaffected settlers who raided farms, seized supplies and sometimes engaged in violent encounters with soldiers and militia. Contemporary reports emphasise both the ruthlessness of some raids and Howe's capacity to impose discipline within his gang. His journal reportedly contained reflections on his actions and ambitions, contributing to later accounts of his life.

Capture, death and aftermath

Howe's career ended in October 1818 during a confrontation with pursuing parties. His death marked the breakup of his band and the gradual reduction of large organised bushranger groups in that region. Officials used the episode to justify stronger local policing and military patrols.

Legacy and historical significance

Howe's story sits at the intersection of penal history, frontier conflict and folklore. He is often discussed in studies of crime and resistance in early Australian colonies: his life illustrates how transportation, isolation and frontier pressures produced a distinct form of outlawry. Historians rely on colonial records, newspaper reports and fragments such as his Journal of Dreams, while noting that contemporary accounts mix fact with legend.

  • Notable fact: He styled himself with an official-sounding title, unusual among bushrangers.
  • Sources: official dispatches, court records and later narratives; these must be read critically because of sensational reporting of the period.

For general background on the phenomenon he belonged to, see materials on the broader history of bushranging and early colonial Tasmania.