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Charles Ross (British Army officer, born 1667)

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Charles Ross
Died5 August 1732
Bath
AllegianceKingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain
Service / branchBritish army
RankGeneral
Battles / warsWar of the Spanish Succession

Charles Ross (or Rosse; 8 February 1667 – 5 August 1732) was a Scottish general and Member of Parliament.

Military career

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Ross was born the second son of George Ross, 11th Lord Ross. He joined the British army as a cornet in the King's Own Royal Regiment of Scottish Horse some time before 1688.[1] When Wynne's Regiment of Inniskilling Dragoons was raised in 1689, Ross joined as a captain, and served with the regiment in the Williamite War in Ireland. He went to Flanders with the regiment as lieutenant-colonel in 1694, and was appointed brevet colonel of the regiment on 16 February; when Wynne died on 15 July 1695 his colonelcy was made permanent.[1] In 1704 he secured the title of the Royal Dragoons of Ireland for his regiment.

Ross was promoted brigadier-general on 9 March 1702, and major-general on 1 January 1704. He commanded a brigade of dragoons at the battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet. He was further promoted to lieutenant-general on 1 January 1707, made Colonel-General of all the Dragoon Forces on 1 May 1711, and promoted to full general on 1 January 1712. He was removed from the colonelcy of the Royal Dragoons of Ireland by George I on 8 October 1715, but reappointed on 1 February 1729, holding the post until his death.[1]

Balnagown Castle

Political career

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General Ross was Member of Parliament for Ross-shire from 1710 to 1722 and from 1727 to 1732. In September 1713 he was appointed Envoy Extraordinary to France, but did not take up the post.

Death

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He died at Bath on 5 August 1732 and was buried at Fearn Abbey, leaving his estate of Balnagown, which he had inherited from David Ross, the 13th Laird of Balnagown, in 1711, to his great-nephew Charles Ross.[1]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Dalton, The Blenheim Roll, p. 4.

References

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Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Ross-shire
1710–1722
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Ross-shire
1727–1733
Succeeded by