Stephen Philips

Stephen Phillips was born in Somertown, Oxford, his father the precentor of Peterborough Cathedral. He was educated at that town's grammar school and in Stratford-on-Avon grammar school. He joined Mr F. R. Benson's company when young, left the stage to become an army tutor and in 1890 published his first volume of poems 'Marpessa'. He died at the age of 48 after suffering a heart attack in the autumn of 1915, whilst his play 'Armageddon' was on tour.