He was born in Ellerslie, Prince Edward Island, the son of Thomas Henry Phillips and Eleanor Agnes Williams.
Phillips was first elected to the provincial assembly in a 1946 by-election held after the death of William H. Dennis.
He also was a member of the province's Executive Council, serving as Minister of Welfare and Labour in 1956.
Phillips died at Prince County Hospital in Summerside at the age of 85.
His daughter Vera married Joshua MacArthur, who also served in the provincial assembly.