In Penang in 1800, he became secretary to George Alexander William Leith, and after that to Robert Townsend Farquhar.
He was then in charge of Penang until the arrival of Philip Dundas with full powers, and Phillips was at that point given a customs post.
[1] Further sets of circumstances then saw Phillips govern Prince of Wales' Island, in an acting capacity, which he did in total six times.
[1] They included Phillips then served as Governor of Prince of Wales' Island from 1820, frustrating the hopes for the post of Stamford Raffles.
[4] The Phillips marriage was part of a double wedding, in which Henry Burney married another Janet Bannerman.