Elisha Phelps was born in Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1779. He graduated from Yale College in 1800 and subsequently from Litchfield Law School in 1803, after which he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in Simsbury. Phelps held various positions in the Connecticut House of Representatives and the Connecticut Senate over nearly two decades, including serving as speaker. He also represented Connecticut in Congress as a Toleration Republican and an Adams candidate. Additionally, Phelps served as Connecticut comptroller and was involved in revising and codifying state laws. His educational and professional background underscores his extensive experience in state and federal legislative roles.

Elisha Phelps combines state-level fiscal conservatism with a strong emphasis on legislative experience, suggesting a unique approach to governance. His support for codifying state laws indicates a preference for clarity and efficiency, while his political career, spanning multiple state offices and parties, reveals an ideologically agile stance. Notably, Phelps's legislative record shows an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, revealing a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests.