John Howard was an English nobleman, soldier, politician and the first Howard Duke of Norfolk. He was born about 1425, the son of Sir Robert Howard of Tendring Hall, Suffolk, by his wife Margaret eldest daughter of Sir Thomas de Mowbray the 1st Duke of Norfolk (of the first creation). His father Sir Robert Howard was probably a retainer of Sir John de Mowbray the 2nd Duke of Norfolk, which would have explained why he had married the Duke's sister.