Robert Ross (marine)
Encyclopedia
Major Robert Ross was the officer in charge of the First Fleet
garrison of marines
, and Lieutenant-Governor of the convict settlement of Norfolk Island
.
and the capture of Quebec
during the Seven Years' War
(1756–63). Promoted to captain, he saw action at Bunker Hill
in June 1775 during the American War of Independence
. He was aboard HMS Ardent
in August 1779 when it was captured and he was taken prisoner by the French.
He was appointed as major and, accompanied by his eight-year old son, sailed to New South Wales
on HMS Sirius
, transferring to Scarborough
during the voyage.
From the start of his time in New South Wales Ross was in conflict with the governor Arthur Phillip
and other officers. David Collins
claimed an “inexpressible hatred” for him, and Ralph Clark described him at the time as “without exception the most disagreeable commanding officer I ever knew”. He refused to allow the marines to supervise the convicts at work, or to allow marine officers to sit as members of the criminal court, attitudes which some of his own officers disagreed with. He criticised Phillip for not building fortifications, and missed no opportunity to embarrass and hinder the governor. His actions made Phillip's task of administering the fledgling colony more difficult.
Probably to prevent open conflict, Phillip sent Ross to Norfolk Island
in March 1790. Here, following the wreck of Sirius and the stranding of its crew on the island, Ross proclaimed martial law for four months. His attempts to clear more land so that the convicts could grow most of their own food increased their discontent at the additional heavy work. He quarrelled with his officers here as vigorously as he had at Port Jackson
and was relieved, returning to Sydney in December 1791.
, neither party being injured. On 18 December he, and most of the marines, departed on HMS Gorgon
.
Ross never adapted to life in the colony and had no faith in its future, stating that “in the whole world there is not a worse country than what we have yet seen of this. … it may with truth be said, here Nature is reversed." He also claimed that “every person … who came out with a desire for remaining … are now most earnestly wishing to get away from it.” Perhaps the loss of many of his personal possessions in the wrecks of Sirius and HMS Guardian
soured his attitude.
On his return to England, Ross resumed his military career. He died on 9 June 1794.
While his regime at Norfolk Island may have been harsh, it was perhaps no more so than that of his successors. Gillen says that he can be commended for his conscientious adherence to his principles, but appears to have been “narrow minded, censorious, self important and almost totally humourless”.
play, Our Country's Good
. In a sense, he appears as the main villain of the piece, sporting an outraged attitude towards Ralph Clark's proposal to the play, and exhibiting near sadism in his treatment of the convicts.
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
garrison of marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, and Lieutenant-Governor of the convict settlement of Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
.
Life and career
He was born in Scotland, and joined the marines in June 1756, being present at the siege of LouisburgLouisbourg, Nova Scotia
Louisbourg is a community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.-History:The town's name was given by French military forces who founded the Fortress of Louisbourg and its fortified seaport on the southwest part of the harbour, in honour of Louis XV...
and the capture of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
(1756–63). Promoted to captain, he saw action at Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
in June 1775 during the American War of Independence
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was aboard HMS Ardent
HMS Ardent (1764)
HMS Ardent was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built by contract by Hugh Blaydes at Hull according to the plans of Sir Thomas Slade, and launched on 13 August 1764 as the first ship of the...
in August 1779 when it was captured and he was taken prisoner by the French.
He was appointed as major and, accompanied by his eight-year old son, sailed to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
on HMS Sirius
HMS Sirius (1786)
HMS Sirius was the flagship of the First Fleet, which set out from Portsmouth, England, in 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales, Australia. Sirius was wrecked off the coast of Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean in 1790....
, transferring to Scarborough
Scarborough (ship)
'Scarborough' was a transport ship of 430 tons, built at Scarborough in 1782. She formed part of the First Fleet, which commenced European settlement of Australia in 1788....
during the voyage.
From the start of his time in New South Wales Ross was in conflict with the governor Arthur Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
and other officers. David Collins
David Collins (governor)
Colonel David Collins was the first Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Van Diemens Land, founded in 1804, which in 1901 became the state of Tasmania in the Commonwealth of Australia.-Early life and military career:...
claimed an “inexpressible hatred” for him, and Ralph Clark described him at the time as “without exception the most disagreeable commanding officer I ever knew”. He refused to allow the marines to supervise the convicts at work, or to allow marine officers to sit as members of the criminal court, attitudes which some of his own officers disagreed with. He criticised Phillip for not building fortifications, and missed no opportunity to embarrass and hinder the governor. His actions made Phillip's task of administering the fledgling colony more difficult.
Probably to prevent open conflict, Phillip sent Ross to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
in March 1790. Here, following the wreck of Sirius and the stranding of its crew on the island, Ross proclaimed martial law for four months. His attempts to clear more land so that the convicts could grow most of their own food increased their discontent at the additional heavy work. He quarrelled with his officers here as vigorously as he had at Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
and was relieved, returning to Sydney in December 1791.
Life in Sydney
Back in Sydney he immediately quarrelled and fought a duel with an officer of the newly arrived New South Wales CorpsNew South Wales Corps
The New South Wales Corps was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies...
, neither party being injured. On 18 December he, and most of the marines, departed on HMS Gorgon
HMS Gorgon (1791)
HMS Gorgon was a 44-gun fifth-rate two-decker ship of the Adventure class of 911 tons, launched at Blackwall Yard in 1785 and completed as a troopship. She was subsequently converted to a storeship...
.
Ross never adapted to life in the colony and had no faith in its future, stating that “in the whole world there is not a worse country than what we have yet seen of this. … it may with truth be said, here Nature is reversed." He also claimed that “every person … who came out with a desire for remaining … are now most earnestly wishing to get away from it.” Perhaps the loss of many of his personal possessions in the wrecks of Sirius and HMS Guardian
HMS Guardian (1784)
HMS Guardian was a 44-gun Roebuck-class fifth-rate two-decker of the Royal Navy, later converted to carry stores. She was completed too late to take part in the American War of Independence, and instead spent several years laid up in ordinary, before finally entering service as a store and convict...
soured his attitude.
On his return to England, Ross resumed his military career. He died on 9 June 1794.
While his regime at Norfolk Island may have been harsh, it was perhaps no more so than that of his successors. Gillen says that he can be commended for his conscientious adherence to his principles, but appears to have been “narrow minded, censorious, self important and almost totally humourless”.
Literary references
Ross appears as a significant character in the Timberlake WertenbakerTimberlake Wertenbaker
- Biography :Wertenbaker grew up in the Basque Country of France near Saint-Jean-de-Luz. She attended schools in Europe and the US before settling permanently in London...
play, Our Country's Good
Our Country's Good
Our Country's Good is a 1988 play written by British playwright, Timberlake Wertenbaker, adapted from the Thomas Keneally novel The Playmaker. The story concerns a group of Royal Marines and convicts in a penal colony in New South Wales, in the 1780s, who put on a production of The Recruiting...
. In a sense, he appears as the main villain of the piece, sporting an outraged attitude towards Ralph Clark's proposal to the play, and exhibiting near sadism in his treatment of the convicts.