Spencer Phips
| Spencer Phips | |
|---|---|
| Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay | |
|
In office August 8, 1732 – April 4, 1757 Acting Governor September 15, 1749 – August 7, 1753 September 25, 1756 – April 4, 1757 |
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| Preceded by | William Tailer |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Hutchinson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 6, 1685 Rowley, Massachusetts Bay Colony |
| Died | April 4, 1757 (aged 71) Cambridge, Province of Massachusetts Bay |
Spencer Phips (June 6, 1685 – April 4, 1757) was a British politician in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Born Spencer Bennett, he was adopted by Massachusetts Governor Sir William Phips, whose name he legally took. Phips served for many years in the provincial assembly, and on the governor's council, before receiving an appointment as lieutenant governor in 1732, a post he held until his death. He was twice formally acting governor.
Spencer Bennett was born on June 6, 1685 in Rowley, Massachusetts Bay Colony. His father, David Bennett, was a local physician, and his mother Rebecca's sister Mary was married to Sir William Phips, who became the first governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1692. Bennett was adopted by the childless Phips, and formally took his name in 1716. He graduated from Harvard College in 1703 (listed at the top of the class because of the prominence of his family). In 1706 he purchased a large tract of land encompassing much of eastern Cambridge, where he settled. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson in 1707, with whom he had eleven children; five, one son and four daughters, survived him.
In 1713 he was appointed a justice of the peace for Middlesex County, and was also made colonel of a cavalry regiment in the colonial militia. He entered politics in 1721, winning election to the provincial assembly. He was, however, appointed to the governor's council that year, and thus did not take the assembly seat. He served in the council until 1724.
Following the death of Lieutenant Governor William Tailer in March 1731/2, Phips was appointed to the post, in which served under Governors Jonathan Belcher and William Shirley until his death. The reasons for his appointment are unknown: he did not appear to have the support of Governor Belcher, who sought the appointment of others to the post.
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