James Hamilton Ross
Encyclopedia
James Hamilton Ross was a Canadian
politician, the Yukon
Territory's third Commissioner
, and an ardent defender of territorial rights. He is also considered to be the first resident of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
.
, Canada West, and four other men were scouting the location for the Canadian Pacific Railway
divisional point
when they became the first residents of the modern-day town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Four days later, Ross established a homestead on the site, becoming the town's first permanent resident.
and was active in the negotiations to create the provinces of Alberta
and Saskatchewan
.
Ross sat in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories between 1883 and 1901, and was Speaker
from 1891 to 1894 and a member of the Executive Council
between 1895 and 1897. Ross also served as treasurer and then became the Commissioner of the Yukon Territory on March 11, 1901, becoming the first Yukon Commissioner to reside in Government House
in Dawson City.
On August 15, 1901 his wife and daughter were lost in the sinking of the S.S. Islander near Juneau.
One of his remaining daughters, Jane Ross, married Alistair Fraser
, the son of Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia Duncan Cameron Fraser
, who later went on to become Lieutenant-Governor in his own right.
in a by-election held on December 2, 1902. He became the Yukon's first Member of Parliament
defeating Yukon territorial councilor Joseph Clarke
. He did not visit the Yukon Territory during the campaign and incurred no election expenses other than his deposit.
Ross was appointed to the Senate
in 1904. Between 1904 and 1905, Ross represented Regina, Northwest Territories and after 1905 until his death, he continued to represent Regina
after the creation of the province of Saskatchewan
. From 1902 until his death, Ross was a member of the Liberal Party
caucus.
James Hamilton Ross died in 1932 in Victoria, British Columbia
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
Territory's third Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
, and an ardent defender of territorial rights. He is also considered to be the first resident of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw is a city in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada on the Moose Jaw River. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Regina. Residents of Moose Jaw are known as Moose Javians. It is best known as a retirement and tourist city that serves as a hub to the hundreds of small towns...
.
Early life
On January 2, 1882, Ross, a western Canadian rancher born in LondonLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada West, and four other men were scouting the location for the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
divisional point
Divisional point
In Canada, a divisional point is a railway depot that includes more than just a basic siding or station.- Overview :In the coal and steam era, a divisional point would include such amenities as a substantial passenger station, freight and baggage sheds, a roundhouse, water tank, coaling and sanding...
when they became the first residents of the modern-day town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Four days later, Ross established a homestead on the site, becoming the town's first permanent resident.
Territorial political career
Soon after, Ross became an active participant in territorial government. He continuously campaigned for responsible governmentResponsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
and was active in the negotiations to create the provinces of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
Ross sat in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories between 1883 and 1901, and was Speaker
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories
The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories The speakership has changed many times from 1876 to 1888 the presiding officer of the assembly was the Lieutenant-Governor of the Northwest Territories, however Members of the Legislative Assembly would...
from 1891 to 1894 and a member of the Executive Council
Executive Council (Canada)
Executive Councils in the provinces and territories of Canada are constitutional organs headed by the Lieutenant Governor.The Cabinet is an informal grouping within the Council, headed by a provincial Premier, whom hold de facto power over the body...
between 1895 and 1897. Ross also served as treasurer and then became the Commissioner of the Yukon Territory on March 11, 1901, becoming the first Yukon Commissioner to reside in Government House
Government House
Government House is the name of many of the residences of Governors-General, Governors and Lieutenant-Governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. It serves as the venue for the Governor's official business, as well as the many receptions and functions hosted by...
in Dawson City.
On August 15, 1901 his wife and daughter were lost in the sinking of the S.S. Islander near Juneau.
One of his remaining daughters, Jane Ross, married Alistair Fraser
Alistair Fraser
Alistair Fraser was the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1952 to 1958.Fraser was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. His father, Duncan Cameron Fraser, served as Nova Scotia's lieutenant-governor from 1906 to 1910 and had also been a Member of Parliament and a judge on the province's...
, the son of Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia Duncan Cameron Fraser
Duncan Cameron Fraser
Duncan Cameron Fraser was a Canadian lawyer, politician, judge, and the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia....
, who later went on to become Lieutenant-Governor in his own right.
Federal political career
Ross ran for a seat to the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in a by-election held on December 2, 1902. He became the Yukon's first Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
defeating Yukon territorial councilor Joseph Clarke
Joseph Clarke
Joseph Andrew Clarke was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served twice as mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, was a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and was a member of the Yukon Territorial Council .-Early life:Clarke was born in...
. He did not visit the Yukon Territory during the campaign and incurred no election expenses other than his deposit.
Ross was appointed to the Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
in 1904. Between 1904 and 1905, Ross represented Regina, Northwest Territories and after 1905 until his death, he continued to represent Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
after the creation of the province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. From 1902 until his death, Ross was a member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
caucus.
James Hamilton Ross died in 1932 in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
External links
- James Hamilton Ross Encyclopedia of Canada
- James Hamilton Ross - Canadian Confederation at www.collectionscanada.ca