Background
He was born in Windsor, Connecticut before moving with his family to Colebrook, Connecticut in 1794.
He was born in Windsor, Connecticut before moving with his family to Colebrook, Connecticut in 1794.
He attended the common schools and the studied medicine and commenced practice in Colebrook, Connecticut.
He was the father of James Phelps who was also a United States Representative from Connecticut. In addition, he also engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits in Riverton, Connecticut. Later, he returned to Colebrook.
Phelps held various local offices.
He was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1835-March 3, 1839). He died in Colebrook, Connecticut in 1866 and was buried in Center Cemetery, Winsted, Connecticut.
He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1817, 1819–1821, 1824, 1827, 1828, and 1830.