Early years

He was the son of George McPhillips (born Co. Monaghan, 1818) and Margaret Lavin, both of whom were Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 and he was the youngest of six boys His father and three brothers were land surveyor

Surveying

See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

's. His brother, George McPhillips Jr. (1848–1913) is commemorated by McPhillips Street in Winnipeg.

Military service

McPhillips held a second class certificate from Toronto School of Infantry. He was a lieutenant in the 90th Battalion, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, during the Northwest Rebellion in 1885. He fought at the Battle of Fish Creek

Battle of Fish Creek

The Battle of Fish Creek , fought April 24, 1885 at Fish Creek, Saskatchewan, was a major Métis victory over the Dominion forces attempting to quell Louis Riel's North-West Rebellion...

 and Battle of Batoche

Battle of Batoche

The Battle of Batoche was the decisive battle of the North-West Rebellion. Fought from 9 May to 12 May 1885 at the ad hoc Provisional Government of Saskatchewan capital of Batoche, the greater numbers and superior firepower of Middleton's force could not be successfully countered by the Métis ,...

 and received a medal bar

Medal bar

A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...

 and clasp. He retired in 1890 with rank of Captain.

Law & Political Career

McPhillips was called to the Bar in Manitoba, in Trinity Term

Trinity term

Trinity term is the name of the third and final term of Oxford University's and the University of Dublin's academic year. It runs from about mid April to about the end of June and is named after Trinity Sunday, which falls eight weeks after Easter, in May or June.At the University of Sydney, it was...

 in 1882, and to the Bar of British Columbia in 1891. He was a member of Legislative assembly

Member of Legislative Assembly

A Member of Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature of a State in the Indian system of government...

 for British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

 from 1898 to 1903 serving Victoria City (provincial electoral district)

Victoria City (provincial electoral district)

Victoria City was one of the first twelve provincial electoral districts in the province of British Columbia, Canada, upon its entry into Confederation that year. It was originally a four-member riding, and elected to the Legislature several prominent Members of the Legislative Assembly and...

 and from 1907 to 1912 he served The Islands

The Islands

The Islands was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It first appeared on the hustings in the 1890 provincial election and lasted until it was integrated into the new riding Nanaimo and The Islands as of the 1941 election.- Demographics :-Notable MLAs:This...

 (provincial electoral district). He was Attorney General of British Columbia

Attorney General of British Columbia

The Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia is a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province of British Columbia, Canada...

 resigning on the 5th November 1903. McPhillips sat on the British Columbia Court of Appeal

British Columbia Court of Appeal

The British Columbia Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The BCCA hears appeals from the Supreme Court of British Columbia and a number of boards and tribunals. The BCCA also hears criminal appeals from the Provincial Court of British...

 as a judge from 1913, serving up until his death in 1938.

Personal life

In 1896, he married Sophia Emily Davie, daughter of the late Hon. A.E.B. Davie, Q.C.