Thomas Phillips

Sir Thomas Phillips (1801 – 1867) was a Welsh lawyer, politician and businessman, who was Mayor of Newport in Monmouthshire at the time of the Newport Rising in 1839. Life The eldest son of Thomas Phillips of Llanellen House, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, by Ann, eldest daughter of Benjamin James of Llangattock, Crickhowell, Brecknockshire, was born at Llanelly in 1801. The family later moved to Trosnant, near by Pontypool. . On 9 November 1838 Phillips was elected Mayor of Newport, and became a figure of the Newport Rising. On 4 November 1839, he was in charge of the town when John Frost, at the head of 7,000 Chartists, entered it with the intention of releasing Henry Vincent from gaol. A 30-strong company of the 45th Regiment of Foot was placed at his disposal, and took up station in the Westgate Inn. When the hotel was attacked, Phillips was wounded with bullets in the arm and groin. The soldiers then fired on the crowd, which was completely routed, 22 being killed and about 50 wounded.