Leonard George Phillips was born in London on 5 December 1890. He was educated at the William Ellis School, the University of London and the Middlesex Hospital for which he gained an entrance scholarship in 1910. He won the Lyall Gold Medal and scholarship for practical surgery in 1914. He was turned down for active service on health grounds. He was greatly influenced when house surgeon at the Middlesex by Sir John Bland-Sutton, Sir Gordon Gordon-Taylor, Victor Bonney and Comyns Berkley and decided on obstetrics and gynaecology as a career. He was honorary consulting surgeon to the Hospital for Women, Soho, Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Willesden, Croydon General and Huntingdon County Hospital. He was an examiner in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of London, examiner to the Central Midwives Board and for the DRCOG. He was part author of *Queen Charlotte's practice of obstetrics*. He was keen on riding, shooting, golf and gardening and collected antiques, especially silver and ceramics. He married Dr Lilian Robinson in 1924. They had one daughter who is a paediatrician. He died on 22 June 1975, aged 85 years.