William Cooper Howells (1807 - 1894)

William Cooper Howells (May 15, 1807 - August 28, 1894) was a Welsh-born American publisher and diplomat. He was father of novelist William Dean Howells. Early on, William Cooper showed a literary bent and an interest in politics. He became a printer and a newspaper man and, in the 1870's and 80's served as U.S. consul in Quebec and Toronto.