PHILLIPS, STEPHEN

born July 28, 1864, Summertown, Oxfordshire, Eng. died Dec. 9, 1915, Deal, Kent English actor and poet who was briefly successful as a playwright. Phillips was educated at Trinity College School, Stratford-upon-Avon, and at King's School, Peterborough. He joined F.R. Benson's company in 1885. His first collection of poetry, Poems (1897), was followed by several verse dramas, including Herod (1901), Ulysses (1902), and Nero (1906). Phillips was compared to Shakespeare for Paolo and Francesca (1900), but his reputation soon declined and he died in poverty.