Biography

03/29/1761 - 08/09/1842

General William Ross (D) Luzerne and Northumberland Counties 1812-1815 (D9) Columbia, Luzerne, Northumberland, Susquehanna and Union Counties 1815-1816 

Early Life:

General William Ross, born March 29, 1761, Scotland, Windham County, Connecticut; son of Jeremiah and Ann Paine Ross; rose in major to brigade inspector, general, Pennsylvania Militia, American Revolutionary War; unsuccessful campaigns, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1809, 1810; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1812-1815; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1815-1816; married, Elizabeth Sterling Ross, children, Sarah Sterling Ross, Eliza Irene Ross, Caroline Ann Ross, William Sterling Ross; died, August 9, 1842 (aged 81), Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; interment, Hollenback Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Unsuccessful campaigns, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Luzerne County, 1809, 1810.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, Luzerne and Northumberland Counties, 1812-1815. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Columbia, Luzerne, Northumberland, Susquehanna and Union Counties, 1815-1816.

Legacy:

Participated, Battle of Wyoming, American Revolutionary War between American Patriots and Loyalists accompanied by Iroquois raiders. Took place, July 3, 1778, Exeter and Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania. More than 300 Patriots were killed in the battle. Killed, were the senators’ brothers Lieutenant Perrin Ross, Private Jeremiah Ross, Jr., brother-in-law, Ensign Jonathan Otis.

Son, Brigadier General, William Sterling Ross, President of the Senate, 1847, Pennsylvania State Senate, 13th district, Columbia and Luzerne Counties, 1845-1848.

William Sterling Ross  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "R"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. 

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Gen William Ross (1761-1842) - Find a Grave Memorial