Otto Christopher Baron von der Howen was a military man, born in Mittau (Kurland), originally in the Russian army, falling in disgrace, he enlisted in 1799 in the Dutch Batavian army, became adjutant to King Louis Napoleon of Holland and was in Spain between 1811 and 1814. Between During the Belgian rising of 1830, he defended the city of Mons, but was defeated and became a prisoner.