William Howe was born in 1729 and died in 1814. His real name was Viscount Howe. He led the British in America during the early years of the Revolutionary War. On June 17, 1775 he led the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill. In October of the same year, he succeeded General Thomas Cage as commander of the British Army in America. In the time he was commander, he won several battles such as, Long Island, White Plains, and Brandywine. However he didn't defeat the Americans, and because of this. He resigned his post and was succeeded by Sir Henry Clinton in 1778.

Howe was educated at Eton College. During the French and Indian war, which was 1754 to 1763, he fought at the siege and capture of Louisbourg and in the battle of Quebec. In 1776 he was knighted and was made a general in 1793. His brother, Richard Howe, became commandeer of the British fleet in American during the Revolutionary War.

The name of this battle can be deceiving because fighting actually took place on Breeds Hill. The reason for this is, the battle was for the control of Bunker Hill. During this battle, the patriot leader said to his men, "Do not fire until you can see the whites of their eyes." When the battle was finally started the Americans drove back two of the British charges before they ran out of ammunition. However, on the third charge, British bayonets forced the Americans to flee. This battle was the bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary War and Howe won. At the end more than 1,00 British Solaris and about 400 American soldiers were killed or wounded.