Frank Mackenzie Ross
Encyclopedia
Frank Mackenzie Ross, CMG
, MC
(April 19, 1891 in Glasgow
, Scotland
– 1971 in Vancouver
) was the 19th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
.
Ross’ first job was as a bank clerk in Montreal
in 1910. He joined the Canadian Army at the outbreak of World War I
, serving with the 8th Battalion. During the war, Ross received the Military Cross
and was a captain by the war’s end.
After the war, Ross joined a shipbuilding company in Saint John
, New Brunswick
. From this start, Ross went on to careers in industry and finance.
During World War II
, Ross assisted in Ottawa
procuring supplies for the British Admiralty. His wartime service earned Ross the C.M.G.
. Also during the war, Ross married Phyllis Turner
, whose son John Turner
later became Prime Minister
of Canada
.
Ross was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor on October 3, 1955. During Ross’ term, a fire destroyed Government House
. A new Government House was completed in May 1959, the year before Ross retired from the office of Lieutenant-Governor. With all of the furnishings destroyed, Frank Ross and his wife, Phyllis, went to the United Kingdom in search of suitable pieces. The Rosses purchased 114 pieces of furniture, which they donated to the new Government House.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(April 19, 1891 in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
– 1971 in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
) was the 19th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
.
Ross’ first job was as a bank clerk in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1910. He joined the Canadian Army at the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, serving with the 8th Battalion. During the war, Ross received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and was a captain by the war’s end.
After the war, Ross joined a shipbuilding company in Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. From this start, Ross went on to careers in industry and finance.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ross assisted in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
procuring supplies for the British Admiralty. His wartime service earned Ross the C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
. Also during the war, Ross married Phyllis Turner
Phyllis Ross
Phyllis Gregory Ross, OC, CBE was a Canadian economist, civil servant, the first woman Chancellor of the University of British Columbia and in the Commonwealth of Nations, and the mother of the 17th Prime Minister of Canada, John Turner.-Parentage:Though elsewhere listed as Phyllis Gregory, born...
, whose son John Turner
John Turner
John Napier Wyndham Turner, PC, CC, QC is an English Canadian lawyer and retired politician, who served as the 17th Prime Minister of Canada from June 30 to September 17, 1984....
later became Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Ross was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor on October 3, 1955. During Ross’ term, a fire destroyed Government House
Government House (British Columbia)
Government House of British Columbia is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, as well as that in Victoria of the Canadian monarch, and has casually been described as "the Ceremonial Home of all British Columbians." It stands in the provincial capital on a 8.9 ha ...
. A new Government House was completed in May 1959, the year before Ross retired from the office of Lieutenant-Governor. With all of the furnishings destroyed, Frank Ross and his wife, Phyllis, went to the United Kingdom in search of suitable pieces. The Rosses purchased 114 pieces of furniture, which they donated to the new Government House.
External links
- Biography on Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia official website.