Chiefs of Clan Ross facts for kids

Clan Ross is an old Scottish Highland clan. Its first leaders were also known as the Earls of Ross. But in the late 1300s, the title of Earl of Ross went to other families. After that, the leaders of Clan Ross were called "of Balnagowan." This was because their main home was Balnagowan Castle. The leadership of the clan has changed hands many times. Today, the chief is David Campbell Ross. He is a descendant of Hugh Ross, the 4th of Balnagowan. Here is a list of the chiefs of Clan Ross.

Chiefs of Clan Ross

Early Chiefs: Earls of Ross

These early chiefs of Clan Ross were also known as the Earls of Ross. This was a very important title.

Fearchar, 1st Earl of Ross

• Chief until: 1249
• About him: Fearchar crushed a rebellion in Moray and Ross. He brought the king the heads of the rebel leaders. For this, he was made a knight in 1215.

Uilleam I, 2nd Earl of Ross

• Chief until: 1274
• About him: Uilleam was a top judge in Scotland, especially in the North. He married the daughter of William Comyn, who was the Earl of Buchan.

Uilleam II, 3rd Earl of Ross

• Chief until: 1323
• About him: Uilleam changed sides during the Scottish Wars of Independence. His son, Walter, fought for Scotland at the famous Battle of Bannockburn.

Aodh, 4th Earl of Ross

• Chief until: 1334
• About him: Aodh was a favorite of King Robert the Bruce. He married Matilda, who was King Robert's sister.

Uilleam III, 5th Earl of Ross

• Chief until: 1372
• About him: Uilleam was the last chief of Clan Ross to also hold the title of Earl of Ross. He married the daughter of Aonghus Óg Mac Domhnaill, Lord of Islay. They had a daughter named Euphemia.

After Uilleam III, the title of Earl of Ross went to other families. It did not return to the Clan Ross chiefs.

Chiefs of Balnagowan

After the Earldom of Ross went to other families, the chiefs of Clan Ross became known as "of Balnagowan." This was because their main home was Balnagowan Castle.

Hugh Ross, 1st of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1374
• About him: Hugh was a descendant of Aodh, the 4th Earl of Ross. He became the chief of Clan Ross after Uilleam III died. However, the title of Earl of Ross had already gone to someone else.

William Ross, 2nd of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1412
• About him: William married Catherine, the daughter of Paul Mactire.

Walter Ross, 3rd of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1412
• About him: Not much is known about Walter's time as chief.

Hugh Ross, 4th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1497
• About him: Hugh married the daughter of the Earl of Sutherland. The Earl of Sutherland was married to Helen Sinclair, whose father was the Earl of Orkney.

John Ross, 5th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1501
• About him: John married Christian, the daughter of MacLeod of Torquil.

Alexander Ross, 6th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1486
• About him: Alexander married Dorothy, daughter of Alexander Sutherland. He was killed leading Clan Ross in battle. This was at the Battle of Auldicharish against Clan Mackay and Clan Sutherland.

Sir David Ross, 7th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1527
• About him: Sir David married Helen, the daughter of Keith of Inverugie.

Walter Ross, 8th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1528
• About him: Walter married Marrion, the daughter of Sir John Grant of Freuchie.

Alexander Ross, 9th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1592
• About him: Alexander married Janet Sinclair, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Caithness.

George Ross, 10th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1615
• About him: George first married Marrion Campbell. Later, he married Isobel MacKintosh.

David Ross, 11th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1632
• About him: David married Mary, the daughter of Alexander, Earl of Sutherland.

David Ross, 12th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1653
• About him: David married Mary, daughter of the 7th Lord Fraser of Lovat. He fought at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He was captured and held in the Tower of London, where he is believed to have died.

David Ross, 13th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1711
• About him: David was the last of his direct family line at Balnagowan. He married Anne, daughter of the 4th Earl of Moray. He left his estates to Charles Ross, who was not a direct family member.

Later Chiefs and New Lines

The chiefship of Clan Ross continued through different family lines.

Lt-General Charles Ross, 14th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1732
• About him: Charles was the second son of George Ross, 11th Lord Ross of Hawkhead. He also inherited the Balnagowan estates.

Col. Charles Ross, 15th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1745
• About him: Charles was the second son of George Ross, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead. He was killed in 1745 while leading some clan members at the Battle of Fontenoy.

George, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 16th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1754
• About him: George was from the Hawkhead line of the Ross family.

William, 14th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 17th of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1754
• About him: William was also from the Hawkhead line of the Ross family.

Grizel Lockhart Ross

• Chief until: 1755
• About her: When the male line of the Ross of Hawkhead family ended, the Balnagowan estates passed to James Lockhart of Carstairs. His grandfather had married Grizel, the daughter of William Ross, 12th Lord Ross. James then took the name Lockhart-Ross.

Sir William Lockhart-Ross

• Chief until: 1758
• About him: Sir William was the first chief from the Lockhart line.

Sir James Lockhart-Ross

• Chief until: 1760
• About him: Sir James was the second chief from the Lockhart line.

Sir George Lockhart-Ross

• Chief until: 1778
• About him: Sir George was the third chief from the Lockhart line.

Admiral Sir John Lockhart-Ross

• Chief until: 1790
• About him: Sir John was the fourth chief from the Lockhart line.

Lt. General Sir Charles Lockhart-Ross of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1814
• About him: Sir Charles was the fifth chief from the Lockhart line.

Sir Charles William Augustus Lockhart-Ross of Balnagowan

• Chief until: 1893
• About him: Sir Charles was the sixth and last chief from the Lockhart-Ross line.

Ethel Frances Sarah Williamson Ross

• Chief until: 1957
• About her: Ethel was from the Rosses of Pitcalnie. The chiefship then passed to a line of Rosses who were direct descendants of Nicholas Ross. Nicholas was the second son of Chief Alexander Ross, who died in 1592.

Rosa Williamson Ross

• Chief until: 1968
• About her: Rosa was also from the Rosses of Pitcalnie.

David Campbell Ross

• Chief until: The current Chief of Clan Ross.
• About him: The chiefship passed to another line of Rosses, the Rosses of Shandwick. They are direct descendants of William Ross, who was killed in battle in 1486. William was the grandson of Hugh Ross, the 4th of Balnagowan.