Spencer Phips

Spencer Phips (born June 6, 1685 in Rowley , Massachusetts Bay Colony , † April 4, 1757 in Cambridge , Province of Massachusetts Bay ) was a British colonial politician and twice acting governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

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Spencer Phips was born under the name Spencer Bennett. He was later adopted (by marriage) by his uncle, Colonial Governor William Phips . This is how it got its new name. In 1703 he graduated from Harvard College . In 1706 he bought some land near Cambridge, where he then settled. Since 1707 he was married to Elizabeth Hutchinson, with whom he had eleven children, five of whom survived him. Since 1713 Phips was Justice of the Peace in Middlesex County . He also became a colonel in the cavalry in the colonial militia. Since 1721 he was also politically active. He was elected to the colonial parliament, but could not take office because he was appointed to the governor's cabinet (governor's council) . He was a member of this body until 1724.

Since August 8, 1732, Spencer Phips held the office of lieutenant governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay . He held this post until his death on April 4, 1757. He served under the governors Jonathan Belcher and William Shirley . Between September 15, 1749 and August 7, 1753 and again from September 25, 1756 until his death on April 4, 1757, he held the post of colonial governor. In both terms of office there were armed conflicts both with the Indians and with the French, especially in the north of the colony in what is now the US state of Maine . Phips also had private land there, which was at times threatened. The wars were the North American part of a global conflict between France and Britain. The city of Spencer , Massachusetts , was named in honor of Spencer Phips.

Web links

• Spencer Phips in the database of Find a Grave (English)