Charles Ross (British Army officer, born 1667)

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

He was the second son of George Ross, 11th Lord Ross. When Wynne's Regiment of 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 colonel of the regiment on Wynne's death, 15 July 1695. In 1704 he secured the title of the Royal Dragoons of Ireland for his regiment.

Balnagown Castle

Ross was promoted brigadier-general on 9 March 1702, and major-general on 1 January. 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 on 8 October 1715, but reappointed on 1 February 1729, holding the post until his death.

In 1711 he inherited the estate of Balnagown from David Ross, the 13th Laird of Balnagown, who had rebuilt the castle but died with no heirs.

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. He died at Bath and was buried at Fearn Abbey, leaving his estate of Balnagown to his great-nephew Charles Ross.

References

• D. W. Hayton, ROSSE (ROSS), Hon. Charles (1667-1732). in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, 2002.
• J. M. Simpson, ROSS, Hon. Charles (d.1732), of Balnagowan, Ross. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, 1970.
• Walter Temple Willcox, The Historical Records of the Fifth (Royal Irish) Lancers, 1908. pages iii-iv