Jonas Phillips Phoenix (January 14, 1788 – May 4, 1859) was a U.S. Representative from New York, serving two nonconsecutive terms from 1843 to 1845, and from 1849 to 1851.
Contents
Early life
Phoenix was born in Morristown, New Jersey on January 14, 1788, the son of Daniel Phoenix (1737–1812) and Anna Lewis (née Phillips) Phoenix (1765–1854). He received a limited schooling and became a merchant. His father was a prominent citizen of Long Island who moved to Morristown in the Province of New Jersey when the British occupied Long Island. After the Revolutionary War, the family moved to New York and his father served as city treasurer.
His paternal grandparents were Alexander and Cornelia Phoenix, descendants of English immigrants to New Amsterdam. His maternal grandfather was Jonas Phillips of Morristown and his mother was the great-granddaughter of Rev. George Phillips, the progenitor of the New England Phillips family in America.
Career
From 1810 to 1814, he was partners with Thomas Alsop in the merchant firm of Phoenix & Alsop at 27 Front Street in New York City. From 1814 to 1827, the firm was known as J. P. Phoenix & Co. and was located at 22 South Street in New York City. The business continued to be run by his brother, John Doughty Phoenix under the name of Phoenix & Co., located at 65 Water Street.