He was the eldest of five children, born to Abigail (née Paddock) and Eliphalet Remington.

He improved arms manufacture with the reflection method of straightening gun barrels and manufactured the first successful cast-steel, drilled rifle barrel made in the United States.

After his father's death, Philo headed the company and supplied small arms to the Union during the American Civil War.

[3] He was active when the firm won the contract to manufacture what was then known as the Sholes and Glidden typewriter on March 1, 1873.

[3] Remington died of bilious fever on April 4, 1889, while in Silver Springs, Florida.