William Ross, 12th Lord Ross
Encyclopedia
William Ross, 12th Lord Ross (c.1656-15 March 1738), was a Scottish nobleman, soldier and politician.
, who died in 1682, by Grizel, daughter of William Cochrane, 1st Earl of Dundonald
. The Rosses of Halkhead, or Hawkhead, in Renfrewshire
, were a Lowland
family, not apparently related to the Earls of Ross
or the Highland
family of Ross
of Balnagown.
troop of horse, and as captain (26 December 1682) and major (4 August 1686) in Claverhouse's
regiment of horse, the last of which, however, he shortly afterwards resigned. In 1685, he was wounded in an action during the pursuit of the Earl of Argyll
.
He appears to have been a personal friend of Claverhouse, having been a witness at his wedding in 1684, and later excused himself from joining the army raised against his old friend and commander by pleading the pressure of his Parliamentary duties.
of King William
and was chosen by the Convention of Estates
to go to London to give the King an account of their proceedings. He was also appointed as a commissioner to consider the question of union with England. On 18 May 1689, he was appointed a member of the Privy Council
.
Disaffected perhaps by the lack of reward for his services, Ross became closely involved with the Earl of Annandale
in the dissident "Club" of Sir James Montgomerie of Skelmorlie. However, he recanted and, although sent to the Tower of London
in July 1690, was eventually released without prosecution.
On 29 February 1704 he was appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
. A later attempt in about 1707 to secure for himself the ancient Earldom of Ross
aroused the genealogical indignation of the Earl of Cromartie
, who memorably wrote that Ross had no more relation to the old Earls of Ross "than the miller of Carstairs
has to the Prince of Parma
".
Ross died at Edinburgh on 15 March 1738.
By his first wife, Lord Ross had:
Origins
Ross was born in about 1656. He was the son and heir of George Ross, 11th Lord RossGeorge Ross, 11th Lord Ross
George Ross, 11th Lord Ross of Halkhead , was a Scottish nobleman and soldier.-Origins:Ross was the son and heir of William Ross, 10th Lord Ross, who died in 1656, by Margaret, daughter of Sir James Forrester of Torwoodhead...
, who died in 1682, by Grizel, daughter of William Cochrane, 1st Earl of Dundonald
Earl of Dundonald
Earl of Dundonald is a title in the Peerage of Scotland.The Earldom was created in 1669 for the Scottish soldier and politician William Cochrane, 1st Earl of Dundonald, along with the subsidiary title of Lord Cochrane of Paisley and Ochiltree, with remainder to his heirs male, failing which to his...
. The Rosses of Halkhead, or Hawkhead, in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, were a Lowland
Scottish Lowlands
The Scottish Lowlands is a name given to the Southern half of Scotland.The area is called a' Ghalldachd in Scottish Gaelic, and the Lawlands ....
family, not apparently related to the Earls of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
or the Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
family of Ross
Clan Ross
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...
of Balnagown.
Military career
Ross had commissions as lieutenant (27 September 1678) and captain (4 September 1680) in Lord Home'sEarl of Home
The title Earl of Home was created in 1605 in the Peerage of Scotland for Alexander Home of that Ilk, who was already the 6th Lord Home.The Earl of Home holds the subsidiary titles of Lord Home , and Lord Dunglass , in the Peerage of Scotland; and Baron Douglas, of Douglas in the County of Lanark ...
troop of horse, and as captain (26 December 1682) and major (4 August 1686) in Claverhouse's
John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee
John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee , known as the 7th Laird of Claverhouse until raised to the viscounty in 1688, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman, a Tory and an Episcopalian...
regiment of horse, the last of which, however, he shortly afterwards resigned. In 1685, he was wounded in an action during the pursuit of the Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish peer.He was born in 1629 in Dalkeith, Scotland, the son of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll....
.
He appears to have been a personal friend of Claverhouse, having been a witness at his wedding in 1684, and later excused himself from joining the army raised against his old friend and commander by pleading the pressure of his Parliamentary duties.
Political career
In 1689 Ross was present at the first ParliamentParliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
of King William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
and was chosen by the Convention of Estates
Convention of Estates of Scotland
The Convention of Estates of Scotland sat between 16 March 1689 and 5 June 1689 to determine the settlement of the Scottish throne following the invasion of William, Prince of Orange...
to go to London to give the King an account of their proceedings. He was also appointed as a commissioner to consider the question of union with England. On 18 May 1689, he was appointed a member of the Privy Council
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
.
Disaffected perhaps by the lack of reward for his services, Ross became closely involved with the Earl of Annandale
William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale
William Johnstone, 2nd Earl of Annandale and Hartfell, 1st Marquess of Annandale KT was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Hartfell and Henrietta Douglas...
in the dissident "Club" of Sir James Montgomerie of Skelmorlie. However, he recanted and, although sent to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
in July 1690, was eventually released without prosecution.
On 29 February 1704 he was appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , reflecting the Church's role as the national church of Scotland, and the Sovereign's role as protector and member of...
. A later attempt in about 1707 to secure for himself the ancient Earldom of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
aroused the genealogical indignation of the Earl of Cromartie
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS , known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman....
, who memorably wrote that Ross had no more relation to the old Earls of Ross "than the miller of Carstairs
Carstairs
The name Carstairs refers to a pair of villages located some 4–5 miles east of the town of Lanark in the administrative region of South Lanarkshire in southern Scotland....
has to the Prince of Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
".
Ross died at Edinburgh on 15 March 1738.
Family
Ross married no fewer than four times:- first (7 February 1679) to Agnes, daughter and heiress of Sir John Wilkie of Fouldean
- secondly to Margaret, daughter of Lord WhartonPhilip Wharton, 4th Baron WhartonPhilip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton was an English peer.A Parliamentarian during the English Civil War, he served in various offices including soldier, politician and diplomat. He was appointed as the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire by Parliament in July 1642...
(and widow of Major Dunch and Sir Thomas Sulyarde) - thirdly to Anne, daughter of John Hay, 2nd Marquess of TweeddaleJohn Hay, 2nd Marquess of TweeddaleJohn Hay, 2nd Marquess of Tweeddale was a Scottish nobleman.Hay was the eldest son of John Hay, 1st Marquess of Tweeddale and his wife, Jean, daughter of Walter Scott, 1st Earl of Buccleuch. In 1666, at Highgate in London, he married Lady Mary Maitland, daughter of John Maitland, 1st Duke of...
- fourthly (contract 16 June 1731) to Henrietta, daughter of Sir Francis Scott of Thirlestane (who survived him and died on 16 January 1750).
By his first wife, Lord Ross had:
- George Ross, 13th Lord RossGeorge Ross, 13th Lord RossGeorge Ross, 13th Lord Ross of Halkhead , was a Scottish nobleman.-Origins:Ross was the eldest son and heir of William Ross, 12th Lord Ross, who died in 1738, by Agnes, daughter and heiress of Sir John Wilkie of Fouldean...
- John, who was born on 13 July 1687 but died young
- Euphame (10 November 1684-1729), who married first William Boyd, 3rd Earl of KilmarnockWilliam Boyd, 3rd Earl of KilmarnockWilliam Boyd, 3rd Earl of Kilmarnock was a Scottish nobleman.He fought for the British Government during the Jacobite rising of 1715....
and secondly (after 1717) John Murray - Mary (born 18 July 1687), who married (contract 26 June 1710) John Murray, 1st Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 1st Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl, KT, PC was a Scottish nobleman, politician, and soldier. He served in numerous positions during his life, and fought in the Glorious Revolution for William III and Mary II....
- Grizel, who married (in or before 1715) Sir James Lockhart of Carstairs and died in November 1749.