Howard Primrose was the son of James Primrose, a prominent businessman in Pictou, Nova Scotia, head of the Primrose firm. He and his brother Clarence had a strict Calvinist upbringing and joined their father in the business. The Primrose firm was involved with ship building, coal mines, and the Marine Railroad Company, among other investments. Howard, who was deaf, wrote the annual report of the Marine Railroad Company; he also attended to the firm’s correspondence as well as to business related to the Customs House. In 1864 he became director of the Marine Assurance Company. Howard is listed in “Canada, Seafarers of the Atlantic” as the owner of eleven vessels, most registered in Pictou. He married Olivia Campbell. Their son Alexander, who studied in Edinburgh University, became an authority on medical education.