Besides becoming one of the highly-sought Philadelphia silversmiths, Philip Syng, Jr. was a member of Benjamin Franklin's Junto, and was a founder of the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Union Fire Company, Philadelphia Contributionship, Pennsylvania Hospital, and the American Philosophical Society. He was a founding trustee of the academy and College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania), serving from 1749 to 1773.
In addition to being one of the most esteemed Philadelphia silversmiths, Philip Syng, Jr. was a member of Benjamin Franklin's social circle and played a key role in establishing several influential institutions, including the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Union Fire Company, the Philadelphia Contributionship, Pennsylvania Hospital, and the American Philosophical Society.