Samuel Field Phillips (February 18, 1824 – November 18, 1903) was a civil rights pioneer, lawyer, politician who served as the second solicitor general of the United States (from 1872 to 1885).

During Phillips's twelve and one-half years as solicitor general, he served under four presidents: Grant, Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur.

Phillips argued the constitutionality of the 1871 Enforcement Act and advocated upholding a conviction of several Ku Klux Klan members who assaulted a black man for voting in a congressional election.

Citing Article I of the U.S. Constitution, he set a precedent used in the 1960s to validate the expansion of federal control over the election process.

Samuel Phillips died on November 18, 1903, aged 79, in Washington, D.C. His body was later moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Solicitor General of the United States.