Philipps came from a cadet branch of the family of Picton, established in Pembrokeshire since the early 16th century and first entering Parliament in 1555. He does not appear to have been active in the first Civil War, but probably fought under Rowland Laugharne the royalist in the rising of 1648. His estate was sequestrated in September 1651 but was discharged at the end of January 1652.1Cal. Comm. Adv. Money , 894; Cal. Comm. Comp. 443, 482, 2353.
Philipps was royalist candidate for Haverfordwest at the general election of 1660 against the ‘republican’, Sampson Lort. James Philipps withdrew in favour of his ‘cousin’. Philipps was returned, and vigorously defended the corporation against Lort’s charges, but the election was declared void. During the hearing, he corresponded regularly with the mayor about political developments. He was reelected on 7 Aug., but he was an inactive Member of the Convention. He was named to only six committees, of which the most important was to consider regulating the fees of courts and offices. On 9 Nov. he raised a question of privilege on behalf of Sir Hugh Owen, 1st Bt. In December Lord Valentia (Arthur Annesley) wished the House to reward ‘Major Philipps’ for his services to the crown, but the recommendation was not effected.2Cal. Recs. Haverfordwest , (Univ. Wales, Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. xxiv), 167-172; Bowman diary, f. 31; Old Parl. Hist. xxiii. 17.
Philipps apparently never sought re-election. In 1688 he avoided answering the questions about repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws by pleading that he was ‘very old’. The date of his death has not been ascertained, but it was probably the same year or soon after the Revolution. He was the last of the Haythog branch.