Ethel was born at Chelsea, London on 29 September 1861. Ethel was 4th of ten children of the sculptor
John Birnie Philip and Frances Black. Ethel married
Charles Whibley in 1896 in the garden of the house occupied by
James Abbott McNeill Whistler at n° 110
Rue du Bac, Paris. Before her marriage Ethel worked for a time in 1893–94 as secretary to
James McNeill Whistler. Whistler painted a number of full-length portraits of Ethel, including
Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian and the watercolour
Rose and Silver: Portrait of Mrs Whibley; and other sketches and etchings of her titled as Miss Ethel Philip or Mrs Whibley. Correspondence between family members addressed personal, social and professional matters as Whistler's sisters-in-law acted as his models and secretaries to manage his business affairs. In correspondence Beatrice Whistler was referred to a 'Trixie' or 'Chinkie'; his sister-in-law and secretary (1890–94) Ethel Whibley was 'Bunnie'; his brother-in-law
Charles Whibley was 'Wobbles'; his sister-in-law and secretary
Rosalind Birnie Philip was referred to as the 'Major'; with Whistler signing family correspondence as the 'General' when he did not sign with his butterfly signature. ==James McNeill Whistler's portraits of Ethel==