Spencer Phips
Encyclopedia
Spencer Phips 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.
and his wife Rebecca, but he was formally adopted by Sir William Phips
, the husband of his mother's sister. He graduated from Harvard College
in 1703 (listed at the top of the class because of the prominence of his family), and in 1716, by an act of the provincial legislature, changed his name to Phips. In 1706 he purchased land in Cambridge
, where he settled. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson, with whom he had eleven children; five, one son and four daughters, survived him.
He was appointed lieutenant governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
in 1732, and served in that post until his death. Twice during his term he was acting governor when Governor William Shirley
was absent. The first time was in 1749 when Shirley took several years leave to participate in boundary negotiations with France. Later, in 1756, he took over again when Shirley returned to England to defend himself against charges of treason and incompetence.
Most of Phips' first tenure as acting governor was occupied with negotiating a peace treaty with native tribes near Falmouth (present-day Portland, Maine
, not to be confused with either present-day Falmouth, Massachusetts
or Falmouth, Maine
). The negotiations were unsuccessful due to ongoing violence perpetrated by British settlers. He also implemented currency reforms advocated by House Speaker Thomas Hutchinson to finally settle the province's longstanding problems with inflationary paper currencies. In 1751 he signed legislation authorizing the exchange of the province's unbacked paper currency for silver-based currency.
During parts of 1754–1756 Governor Shirley was often out of the province on military business associated with the French and Indian War
, and gubernatorial duties would fall to Phips. The principal issue during this time was the arrival in November 1755 of several shiploads of Acadians, who the British army had begun deporting from Nova Scotia
after the Battle of Fort Beauséjour
. The expenses incurred with housing and caring for about 1,000 refugees burdened a provincial treasury already bearing the heavy demands of wartime. This prompted Phips to write to Nova Scotia Governor Charles Lawrence, demanding compensation for the care of the refugees. In 1756 when Acadians who had been resettled in Georgia were found sailing north, apparently intent on returning to Nova Scotia, Phips again complained to Lawrence that Massachusetts was unable to assimilate any more refugees.
His second term as acting governor, begun after Governor Shirley's recall, was brief. Phips was ill, and died six months after Shirley left for England.
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
. Born Spencer Bennett, he was adopted by Massachusetts Governor Sir William Phips
William Phips
Sir William Phips was a shipwright, ship's captain, treasure hunter, military leader, and the first royally-appointed governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay....
, 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.
Life
Spencer Bennett was born to David Bennett of Rowley, MassachusettsRowley, Massachusetts
Rowley is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Rowley.-History:...
and his wife Rebecca, but he was formally adopted by Sir William Phips
William Phips
Sir William Phips was a shipwright, ship's captain, treasure hunter, military leader, and the first royally-appointed governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay....
, the husband of his mother's sister. He graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1703 (listed at the top of the class because of the prominence of his family), and in 1716, by an act of the provincial legislature, changed his name to Phips. In 1706 he purchased land in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, where he settled. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson, with whom he had eleven children; five, one son and four daughters, survived him.
He was appointed lieutenant governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
in 1732, and served in that post until his death. Twice during his term he was acting governor when Governor William Shirley
William Shirley
William Shirley was a British colonial administrator who served twice as Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and as Governor of the Bahamas in the 1760s...
was absent. The first time was in 1749 when Shirley took several years leave to participate in boundary negotiations with France. Later, in 1756, he took over again when Shirley returned to England to defend himself against charges of treason and incompetence.
Most of Phips' first tenure as acting governor was occupied with negotiating a peace treaty with native tribes near Falmouth (present-day Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, not to be confused with either present-day Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 31,531 at the 2010 census....
or Falmouth, Maine
Falmouth, Maine
Falmouth is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 11,185 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area....
). The negotiations were unsuccessful due to ongoing violence perpetrated by British settlers. He also implemented currency reforms advocated by House Speaker Thomas Hutchinson to finally settle the province's longstanding problems with inflationary paper currencies. In 1751 he signed legislation authorizing the exchange of the province's unbacked paper currency for silver-based currency.
During parts of 1754–1756 Governor Shirley was often out of the province on military business associated with the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, and gubernatorial duties would fall to Phips. The principal issue during this time was the arrival in November 1755 of several shiploads of Acadians, who the British army had begun deporting from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
after the Battle of Fort Beauséjour
Battle of Fort Beauséjour
The Battle of Fort Beauséjour was fought on the Isthmus of Chignecto and marked the end of Father Le Loutre’s War andthe opening of a British offensive in the French and Indian War, which would eventually lead to the end the French Empire in North America...
. The expenses incurred with housing and caring for about 1,000 refugees burdened a provincial treasury already bearing the heavy demands of wartime. This prompted Phips to write to Nova Scotia Governor Charles Lawrence, demanding compensation for the care of the refugees. In 1756 when Acadians who had been resettled in Georgia were found sailing north, apparently intent on returning to Nova Scotia, Phips again complained to Lawrence that Massachusetts was unable to assimilate any more refugees.
His second term as acting governor, begun after Governor Shirley's recall, was brief. Phips was ill, and died six months after Shirley left for England.