Background
He was born on March 30, 1750 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, was the only son of William Phillips Sr. and Abigail (Bromfield) Phillips.
merchant philanthropist politician
He was born on March 30, 1750 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, was the only son of William Phillips Sr. and Abigail (Bromfield) Phillips.
He was sent to the Boston Latin School, but the feebleness of his constitution, especially a weakness of the eyes, repeatedly interrupted his education.
He early entered business with his father, who was a prosperous merchant. In 1773 he made an extended tour of Great Britain, Holland, and France, returning in December of that year on one of the "tea ships. "
At the outbreak of the Revolution, he removed his family to Norwich, Connecticut, but he himself labored assiduously for the colonial cause. At the death of his father in 1804, he inherited a large fortune. In the same year he became president of the Massachusetts Bank.
In 1805, he was elected to the Massachusetts General Court and served until 1812, when he was chosen as lieutenant-governor on the Federalist ticket, with Caleb Strong as governor. To this office he was reëlected for eleven successive terms. In 1816 and 1820, he was a presidential elector at large. At the election of delegates to the state constitutional convention of 1820, he received the largest vote of any of the Boston candidates; and it was he who called the convention to order on November 15, 1820, in the Hall of Representatives. His political career ended in 1823, with a term in the Massachusetts Senate.
Elected in 1791 a trustee of Phillips Academy, Andover, founded by his cousin Samuel Phillips, he was made president of the board in 1821, being the fifth of his family to hold that office. He was an original incorporator of the American Board of Foreign Missions, and was president of the American Bible Society, the Massachusetts General Hospital, the American Education Society, the Society for Propagating the Gospel, and many other charitable or philanthropic organizations.
William Phillips Jr. was the tenth Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, one of the most generous benefactors of his time. Besides, he was the president of the Phillips Academy, Andover, supplied the sum of $500 annually for the support of needy students in that school, and gave more than $5, 000 towards the erection of a new brick academy building. It was said that over a period of years he devoted from $8, 000 to $11, 000 annually to charitable purposes, and his bequests in his will totaled $62, 000, including $15, 000 to Phillips Academy and $10, 000 to Andover Theological Seminary.
He was a member of the Old South Church, being one of the deacons from 1794 until his death.
Phillips was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1813.
Phillips was a man of domestic tastes, fond of retirement and averse to publicity. He was sound in his judgments, independent in his opinions, and devoted to duty. His conservatism and caution inspired and held the confidence of others.
He married, September 13, 1774, Miriam Mason, third daughter of Jonathan Mason of Boston, and they had seven children.
