Jacob Merritt Howard (born July 10, 1805) was a United States senator from the state of Michigan and a member of the Republican Party. A male legislator, he represented Michigan in the Senate as a historical member of Congress and is recorded as having served three terms in office. His Senate service began on May 31, 1841, and concluded on March 3, 1871, marking a political career in the upper chamber that extended across three decades.

Howard’s role in Congress was exclusively as a senator; he did not represent a specific House district in the metadata provided, and no additional offices or committee assignments are listed. Identified as a former officeholder, he is associated with Michigan throughout his federal service. While details of his legislative initiatives, personal life, or activities outside the Senate are not included in the available information, his long tenure from 1841 to 1871 situates him among the enduring Republican figures of his era.