Henry H. Ross
Encyclopedia
Henry Howard Ross was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
Ross attended the common schools, and also was educated by his father and a private tutor. He graduated from Columbia College in 1808. Then he studied law with Ralph Hascall in Essex, NY, but returned in 1809 to New York City
and continued his legal studies there with David B. Ogden. Ross was admitted to the bar in 1811, and practiced in Essex, NY, throughout his life.
During the War of 1812
, he enlisted as a second lieutenant
in the 37th Infantry Regiment of the New York State Militia, and fought in the Battle of Plattsburgh
. He rose through the ranks, becoming a major general
of the State Militia in 1828, and retired from the militia in 1836.
On September 23, 1822, he married Susannah Blanchard (d. 1877, daughter of Anthony I. Blanchard who was a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1796-97), and they had several children.
Ross was elected as an Adams man to the 19th United States Congress
, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1827. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in Essex, NY.
He was First Judge and Surrogate of the Essex County Court from 1847 to 1848. He was a presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1848
voting for Zachary Taylor
and Millard Fillmore
.
Ross was buried in a vault on his family estate, "Hickory Hill," in Essex, NY.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Daniel Ross, who was Sheriff of Clinton County from 1794 to 1797, assemblyman in 1798, and First Judge of Essex County from 1800 to 1823, and Elizabeth (Gilliland) Ross.Ross attended the common schools, and also was educated by his father and a private tutor. He graduated from Columbia College in 1808. Then he studied law with Ralph Hascall in Essex, NY, but returned in 1809 to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and continued his legal studies there with David B. Ogden. Ross was admitted to the bar in 1811, and practiced in Essex, NY, throughout his life.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he enlisted as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 37th Infantry Regiment of the New York State Militia, and fought in the Battle of Plattsburgh
Battle of Plattsburgh
The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ended the final invasion of the northern states during the War of 1812...
. He rose through the ranks, becoming a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
of the State Militia in 1828, and retired from the militia in 1836.
On September 23, 1822, he married Susannah Blanchard (d. 1877, daughter of Anthony I. Blanchard who was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1796-97), and they had several children.
Ross was elected as an Adams man to the 19th United States Congress
19th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: John Gaillard , until December 4, 1825** Nathaniel Macon , from May 20, 1826- House of Representatives :* Speaker: John W. Taylor -Members:...
, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1827. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in Essex, NY.
He was First Judge and Surrogate of the Essex County Court from 1847 to 1848. He was a presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1848
United States presidential election, 1848
The United States presidential election of 1848 was an open race. President James K. Polk, having achieved all of his major objectives in one term and suffering from declining health that would take his life less than four months after leaving office, kept his promise not to seek re-election.The...
voting for Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
and Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
.
Ross was buried in a vault on his family estate, "Hickory Hill," in Essex, NY.
Source
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 71, 89, 323, 330 and 360; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- HONORABLE HENRY H. ROSS bio in Northern Lancet and Gazette of Legal Medicine edited by Francis J. D'Avignon and Horace Nelson (Vol. 1, 1850; pages 87ff)
- Ross genealogy in History of Essex County edited by H. P. Smith (D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, NY, 1885), at Ray's Place