Traditional Mayors of Summers Island

The Traditional Mayors of Summers Island are the descendants of Lawrence Phillips, Captain of the HMS Lynton, who reside in James House, Phillipstown. They were the mayors of Phillipstown from 1735 to 1790, when they took rule over the entire island. Until 1961 they held real power over the island. A 1961 referendum decided that successive mayors would be elected by the population. The title is still held, but it is essentially meaningless.