Emanuel Howe is probably best known as the father of four sons, three of whom served in the British military and the fourth as a ship's commander. The eldest George Howe, was an innovative army officer, killed at the opening of the Battle of Carillon in 1758. Richard Howe joined the navy, and rose to be an Admiral. William Howe became noted for his part in the capture of Quebec in 1759 and became a prominent soldier. During 1776–1778 his sons William and Richard commanded, respectively, the British army and naval forces in North America during the American War of Independence. They simultaneously served as peace commissioners to the Second Continental Congress. Richard Howe later won greater fame on the Glorious First of June in 1794. Thomas Howe commanded ships for the East India Company and made observations on Madeira and the hitherto little known Comoro Islands.