Benjamin Travell Phillips was born on 10 Oct 1804 in London. His father was Stephen Howell Phillips, a solicitor who lived at 12 Norfolk St. London, and Harroldstone, co Pembroke. His mother was Mary neé Tappen. Benjamin was educated at Merchant Taylors and posted to the 7th BLC as a cornet on 16 Jan 1821. He fought against the Bhils in 1822-23 and in 1824 made a forced march of upwards of 80 miles with a detachment of the 7th BLC to the relief of the Jaipur Residency. He was a lieutenant on 1 May 1824 and appointed Adjutant of the 7th on 29 May 1826. He commanded the 1st Irregular Cavalry from 1 Dec 1841 and raised and commanded the Cavalry Depot at Cawnpore from 11 Feb 1842. In the 2nd Sikh War he was a Major in the 7th BLC with Brigadier Wheeler’s force in Jullunder and Bari Doabs. Wheeler lost confidence in Major Phillips because of the poor standard of discipline in the 7th. Lt-Col John Hearsey was sent to take over command and make improvements to the regiment.
He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 6 August 1851 but posted to the 4th BLC as Commandant on 18 Nov 1851 and retired on 14 Nov 1853, promoted to Colonel on 25 Mar 1856. On the same day he was made honorary Major-General and appointed Lieutenant of the Yeomen of the Guard on 23 July 1857, until Dec 1861. He was knighted on 18 Feb 1858. His first wife was Marianne Henrietta Sophia Marrie. They were married at St Marys, Bryanston Sq, London on 29 Aug 1833. They had 5 children, all sons born between 1834 and 1844, but Marianne died on 30 Oct 1845. Colonel Phillips, aged 60, married again in 1864 to Clara Marsh aged 23. They had a daughter, Violet Ada Phillips born on 24 Mar 1865 who lived to the age of 93. Major-General Sir Benjamin Phillips died in Paris on 10 May 1880.
