John Ross (American patriot)
Encyclopedia
John Ross was a merchant during the American Revolution
.
He early relocated to Perth, Scotland
, and entered into mercantile pursuits, but in 1763 he came to Philadelphia, where he became a shipping merchant. At the beginning of the conflicts with the mother country, he espoused the cause of the colonies, and was a signer of the non-importation agreement of the citizens of Philadelphia in 1765. He presided at the meeting of the mechanics and tradesmen of the city held on June 9, 1774, to consider a letter from the artificers of New York, and was a member of the committee to reply to the same. On September 16, 1775, he was appointed muster-master of the Pennsylvania navy, which office he resigned, February 23, 1776, to concentrate on his commercial affairs.
In May 1776, he was employed by the committee of commerce of Congress to purchase clothes, arms, and powder for the army. This necessitated the establishment of agencies in Nantes
and Paris
, and Ross made several visits to France during the war. In this duty he advanced or pledged his credit for £20,000 more than was authorized by Congress, much to his later embarrassment and subsequent loss.
He was on familiar terms with George Washington
, Benjamin Franklin
, and Robert Morris
, and several entries in General Washington's diary, during the sittings of the convention to frame the United States Constitution, tell of engagements to dine with Mr. Ross at his country place, Grange Farm
or the Grange, named after the home of Lafayette. This farm was located on the old Haverford Road near Frankford in Chester County, Pennsylvania
. He bought the property, formerly called Clifton Hall, from his father-in-law, Capt. Charles Cruikshank, in 1783 and renamed it in honor of Lafayette's home in France.
Note: Not to be confused with the John Ross (d. 1776) who was Betsy Ross
's first husband.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
He early relocated to Perth, Scotland
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, and entered into mercantile pursuits, but in 1763 he came to Philadelphia, where he became a shipping merchant. At the beginning of the conflicts with the mother country, he espoused the cause of the colonies, and was a signer of the non-importation agreement of the citizens of Philadelphia in 1765. He presided at the meeting of the mechanics and tradesmen of the city held on June 9, 1774, to consider a letter from the artificers of New York, and was a member of the committee to reply to the same. On September 16, 1775, he was appointed muster-master of the Pennsylvania navy, which office he resigned, February 23, 1776, to concentrate on his commercial affairs.
In May 1776, he was employed by the committee of commerce of Congress to purchase clothes, arms, and powder for the army. This necessitated the establishment of agencies in Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and Ross made several visits to France during the war. In this duty he advanced or pledged his credit for £20,000 more than was authorized by Congress, much to his later embarrassment and subsequent loss.
He was on familiar terms with George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, and Robert Morris
Robert Morris (merchant)
Robert Morris, Jr. was a British-born American merchant, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution...
, and several entries in General Washington's diary, during the sittings of the convention to frame the United States Constitution, tell of engagements to dine with Mr. Ross at his country place, Grange Farm
Grange Estate
The Grange Estate, also known as Maen-Coch and Clifton Hall, is a historic mansion in Havertown, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Built in 1700 and expanded several times through the 1850s, it was purchased by Haverford Township in 1974...
or the Grange, named after the home of Lafayette. This farm was located on the old Haverford Road near Frankford in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
. He bought the property, formerly called Clifton Hall, from his father-in-law, Capt. Charles Cruikshank, in 1783 and renamed it in honor of Lafayette's home in France.
Note: Not to be confused with the John Ross (d. 1776) who was Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross is widely credited with making the first American flag. There is, however, no credible historical evidence that the story is true.-Early life:...
's first husband.
External links
- http://www.amphilsoc.org/library/mole/f/franklin/wtf.htmRoss's letters to William Temple FranklinWilliam Temple FranklinWilliam Temple Franklin was a British-born American diplomat and real estate speculator. He is best known for his involvement with the American diplomatic mission in France during the American Revolutionary War serving as secretary to his grandfather Benjamin Franklin that agreed the...
] - http://www.franklinpapers.org/franklin/toc?vol=28Letters to Ross from Benjamin FranklinBenjamin FranklinDr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
] - Link to Geo. Wash. diaries