Stephen Henry Phillips
Encyclopedia
Stephen Henry Phillips was an American lawyer who served as the Attorney General of Massachusetts
and the Kingdom of Hawaii
and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and on King Kamehameha V
's Privy Council.
. He was the eldest son of Jane Appleton (Peele) Phillips and politician Stephen C. Phillips
(1801–1857). He studied at various private schools in Salem, New York
, and Washington, DC. He entered Harvard University
in 1838 wen only 15 years old, graduating in 1842, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Phillips then studied law
at the Harvard Law School
. One of his teachers there was Joseph Story
, who was on the Supreme Court of the United States
at the time.
(its first) in Philadelphia.
Phillips was Attorney-General of the state of Massachusetts
from 1858 to 1861.
Phillips was also a delegate to the 1864 Republican National Convention
which re-nominated Abraham Lincoln
for president.
(1821–1857) who had helped draft the 1852 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
and served as chief justice of the supreme court until his early death. In 1866 Phillips was invited by King Kamehameha V
to come to Honolulu, where he became an officer of the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii
. He was appointed as Hawaii's attorney general and as a member of the king's Privy Council
. He was appointed to the House of Nobles in the legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
in 1867, and attended sessions in 1868, 1870, and 1872.
Phillips temporarily acted as minister of foreign affairs in the cabinet from July 18, 1868 to while Charles de Varigny
was in France
trying to negotiate a treaty. On December 31, 1869 Charles Coffin Harris
became minister of foreign affairs.
Phillips returned to marry Margaret Duncan on October 3, 1871 in Haverhill, Massachusetts
. She was daughter of another politician, James H. Duncan
(1793–1869).
chose a new council and cabinet, and in January 1873 resigned his posts and moved to San Francisco. He was replaced by Albert Francis Judd
as attorney general. In San Francisco he practiced law for the Equitable Life Insurance company and the California state board of railroad comminssioners. In 1881 he moved back to his home state in Danvers, Massachusetts
.
He died on April 8, 1897.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and on King Kamehameha V
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
's Privy Council.
Early life
Phillips was born August 16, 1823 in Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
. He was the eldest son of Jane Appleton (Peele) Phillips and politician Stephen C. Phillips
Stephen C. Phillips
Stephen Clarendon Phillips was a Representative from Massachusetts.Phillips was born in Salem, Massachusetts, to Stephen and Dorcas Phillips, he graduated from Harvard University in 1819. Phillips' engaged in mercantile pursuits in Salem, and was a member of the Massachusetts House of...
(1801–1857). He studied at various private schools in Salem, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Washington, DC. He entered Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1838 wen only 15 years old, graduating in 1842, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Phillips then studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. One of his teachers there was Joseph Story
Joseph Story
Joseph Story was an American lawyer and jurist who served on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1811 to 1845. He is most remembered today for his opinions in Martin v. Hunter's Lessee and The Amistad, along with his magisterial Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, first...
, who was on the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
at the time.
Massachusetts politics
Phillips was a delegate to the 1856 Republican National Convention1856 Republican National Convention
The 1856 Republican National Convention convened from June 17 to June 19, 1856 at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and nominated General John C. Frémont of California and former Senator William Dayton of New Jersey for President and Vice President of the United...
(its first) in Philadelphia.
Phillips was Attorney-General of the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
from 1858 to 1861.
Phillips was also a delegate to the 1864 Republican National Convention
1864 Republican National Convention
The 1864 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from June 7 to June 8, 1864 in Baltimore, Maryland....
which re-nominated Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
for president.
Hawaiian Islands
A fellow student at Harvard was William Little LeeWilliam Little Lee
William Little Lee was an American lawyer who became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:...
(1821–1857) who had helped draft the 1852 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
1852 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii
The Constitution of 1852 served as the Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1852 through 1864. It was passed during the reign of King Kamehameha III...
and served as chief justice of the supreme court until his early death. In 1866 Phillips was invited by King Kamehameha V
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
to come to Honolulu, where he became an officer of the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
. He was appointed as Hawaii's attorney general and as a member of the king's Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. He was appointed to the House of Nobles in the legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A royal legislature was first provided by the 1840 Constitution and the 1852 Constitution was the first to use the term "Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom", and the first to subject the monarch to...
in 1867, and attended sessions in 1868, 1870, and 1872.
Phillips temporarily acted as minister of foreign affairs in the cabinet from July 18, 1868 to while Charles de Varigny
Charles de Varigny
Charles Victor Crosnier de Varigny was a French adventurer, diplomat, and writer.He was born November 25, 1829 in Versailles.He was educated at Lycée Bourbon. He came with his father to the California Gold Rush...
was in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
trying to negotiate a treaty. On December 31, 1869 Charles Coffin Harris
Charles Coffin Harris
Charles Coffin Harris was a New England lawyer who became a politician and judge in the Kingdom of Hawaii who firmly supported the monarchy as an independent nation. After serving in a number of cabinet posts, he became chief justice of the supreme court.-Early life:Charles Coffin Harris was born...
became minister of foreign affairs.
Phillips returned to marry Margaret Duncan on October 3, 1871 in Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
. She was daughter of another politician, James H. Duncan
James H. Duncan
James Henry Duncan was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts.Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, he attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and graduated from Harvard University in 1812...
(1793–1869).
Back to the mainland
After the death of Kamehameha V, the new king LunaliloLunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
chose a new council and cabinet, and in January 1873 resigned his posts and moved to San Francisco. He was replaced by Albert Francis Judd
Albert Francis Judd
Albert Francis Judd was a judge of the Kingdom of Hawaii who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court through its transition into part of the United States.-Life:...
as attorney general. In San Francisco he practiced law for the Equitable Life Insurance company and the California state board of railroad comminssioners. In 1881 he moved back to his home state in Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, Danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 Salem witch trials, and for its famous asylum, the Danvers State Hospital.-17th century:The land...
.
He died on April 8, 1897.