PHILLIPS, Jonathan (c.1724-98), of Newport House, Cornw.

In early life Phillips was a surgeon in the navy. In August 1762 a Jonathan Phillips, ‘Lieutenant of Grenadiers in the Cornish Militia’, was ‘too proud to accept the office of surveyor of hawkers and pedlars’, which would ‘produce him to the world’s eye at country fairs’ as their whipper-in.Saml. Martin to Chas. Jenkinson, 3 Aug. 1762, Bute mss. Phillips succeeded his brother in 1774 as recorder and parliamentary manager of Camelford. At the general election of 1784 he was returned unopposed, but shortly after Parliament met vacated his seat in favour of another Government supporter, Sir Samuel Hannay.

Phillips was knighted in 1786 on presenting an address of congratulation from Camelford on the King’s escape from an attack on his life.

He died 12 Sept. 1798.