William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe (1729-1814) was the Commander-in-Chief of the British land troop during the American Revolution from 1775-1778. In the spring and summer of 1777 he conducted a campaign to capture Philadelphia. Some members of the Gourd Patch Conspiracy hoped that once they overthrew the local pro-independence government, that they would be able to unite with General Howe and prevent Catholicism from taking root in northeastern North Carolina. While some conspirators claimed that the plot was in communication with Howe, any evidence of such a relationship has not been located.