Sir William Phips

Sir William Phips was born on February 2, 1651 in Woolwich, Maine to a humble family (they were mildy successful, though often described as poor). Phips accumulated wealth and fame by marrying a rich widow and after abandoning a shipyard he established in Maine, he gained more wealth and fame by recovering treasure from a shipwreck. For this feat he was knighted by King James II of England, and because of his ability to project military prowess (in truth, he was not very successful in many expeditions and often criticized), Phips was appointed first royal governor of Massachusetts.

When Phips arrived in Salem, magistrates were demanding trials of the accused, many of which were already in prison. Phips deemed, "Irons should be put upon those in prison" and then established the Court of Oyer and Terminer, to "hear and determine" the large backlog of cases. Phips placed prominent and experienced men of Boston and Salem on the new court, under the new lieutenant-governor, William Stoughton whom he placed in charge. Phips blocked the court proceedings, but the hysteria surrounding Salem was beyond his control. Even his wife could not escape accusations of practice witchcraft.

Phips died February 18, 1695 in London, England, awaiting trial to answer charges based on complaints (mostly unrelated to the Salem Witch Trials) by other colonial government officers.