William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB, PC (10 August 1729 – 12 July 1814) was a British General who was Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American Revolutionary War. Howe's record in the war was marked by the costly victorious assault on Breed's Hill known as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the successful capture of both New York City and Philadelphia. However, the near-disaster of the Battle of Germantown, and Howe's failure to support General John Burgoyne's invasion from Canada (which saw Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga) reduced Howe's standing considerably. He resigned in 1778.