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James Ross (Canadian businessman)

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and afterwards trained as a civil engineer in England. He worked for a while in a railway, harbour and water works before coming to the United States in 1868 to apply his talents to the rapidly expanding North American railway industry. In 1870, he was appointed engineer, then chief engineer, of the
380:, with an extension to Saint John. Ross then completed extensions of the CPR west of the Rockies to enable full access to the Pacific. At the time of his death, he was still a director of the CPR and was said to have been the company's largest 611:, had a house built for himself across the road at 3647 Peel Street, which was designed by the Maxwell brothers and completed in 1910. However, after the death of his parents, he moved back to his childhood home. He hired the firm of 627:. In December 2017, representatives of the Clan Ross Association of Canada and members of the McGill Faculty of Law unveiled a plaque commemorating Ross. The plaque is located near the main entrance of Old Chancellor Day Hall. 337:. Completing the project a year ahead of time, Van Horne commented at the opening of the line that Ross's record meant millions to the Canadian Pacific Railway. In achieving this, Ross stuck up a lifelong friendship with 434: 430: 546:
in London, England. Although fault was found on both sides, the contract was found to be legal. Ross resigned from both boards, thus allowing a later merger between the two companies.
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Having completed his work at the CPR, he advised both Lord Strathcona and William Mackenzie on railway contracts in South America, netting US$ 20 million alone for consulting work in
418: 446: 519:, a major contractor to the CPR for replacing wooden bridges with stronger and lower-maintenance steel replacements. Although credited to the drive of Ross, vice-president 313:, the company formed the wholly-owned North American Railway Contracting Company (NARCC). With the brief to meet up with the team driving east from the Pacific Ocean under 524: 128:, was a Scottish-born Canadian civil engineer, businessman and philanthropist. He established his fortune predominantly through railway construction, notably for the 692:, and first-class dining rooms. He undertook a cruise around the world in the hope that it would restore his health, but he died soon after returning to Montreal. 1102: 844:
Towards the end of his life, Ross devoted most of his time to sailing in European and Canadian waters. Following his around the world trip aboard his yacht
520: 317:, Ross was appointed general manager and chief engineer of the NARCC, and he immediately employed the services of Mackenzie, Mann, and Holt. Starting at 1130: 338: 137: 743:
Throughout his lifetime, and in his will, Ross made numerous donations to various charitable and cultural institutions. In memory of his parents, at
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Ross had a passion for art and became a significant collector. At the time of his death, he had amassed one of the largest and finest collections of
615:, again expanding and remodeling the family mansion. After Jack Ross was declared bankrupt in 1928, the mansion was purchased in 1948 by businessman 732: 1035: 1180: 712: 177: 489: 1150: 538:. Investing in further shares independently, Ross built up such a huge stake in Dominion Coal that he was invited to join the board of the 1175: 894: 274:
and several other well-connected railway promoters, who persuaded him to come to Canada. He was appointed chief engineer of Laidlaw's
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Ross' father had been a shipowner, and Ross too had become a keen sailor after settling in Montreal in 1888. He was made honorary
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projects. Ross through investment became first president of the Mexican Power Company, which developed a hydro electric dam at
1155: 1135: 342: 940: 492:, whose holding company later acted as a holding company for all of the team's Canadian and global street car investments. 1120: 708: 704: 1145: 1092: 1170: 1140: 1125: 752: 720: 442: 205: 185: 992: 811: 727:, donating generously to all institutions. Ross was a member of several clubs not already mentioned, including the 695:
After retiring from engineering and active investment, Ross sat on the boards of numerous companies, including the
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Advising on and constructing feeder lines north from the CPR mainline, the company completed early work on the
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In 1872, Ross had married Annie Kerr (1847–1915), the eldest daughter of John W. Kerr (1824–1904), of
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in 1912. In his will, he left the Art Association a further $ 100,000 and much of his collection of
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and a Nurse's Home. During his lifetime he had donated generously to the Alexandra Hospital and the
400:. He also formed a railway consulting and contracting company with Mackenzie, Mann and Holt, with: 365: 302: 129: 833:. They were the parents of a son and a daughter. They divorced in 1930 and the following year, in 1011: 815: 658: 516: 484:
Mackenzie then looked for other opportunities in South America, resulting in similar projects in
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on railway projects in Argentina and Chile. He oversaw the electrification of street railways in
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As the partners recognised the need for clean electricity, they each became involved in local
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After marrying in 1872 (see notes below on his family), Ross became chief engineer of the
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Cup for half-raters in American waters, 1896. However, his most famous yacht was the
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on the North American continent. Through this passion, Ross became president of the
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Mackenzie cutting the ties and organising timber work for trestles and bridges, and
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in 1888, in partnership with William Mackenzie, he oversaw the electrification of
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after his previous vessel) required a staff of sixty-five and had a full
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James Ross with his son, grandson and nurse outside his home at 3644
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Ross saw the great need for steel, and formed a syndicate to buy the
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Scottish-born Canadian civil engineer, businessman and philanthropist
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In 1886, Ross was appointed manager of construction for the
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and became the first Canadian to be made a member of the
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in London, the Manhattan Club in New York City, and the
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Holt laying track, general finishing, and clean-up work.
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purchased in 1912 from the deceased newspaper magnate
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east from Montreal into an Atlantic Ocean terminal in
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After slow progress was being made in connecting the
825:. In 1902, he married Ethel Matthews, daughter of 506: 339:Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal 1012:"Chancellor Day Hall (formerly James Ross House)" 208:; the Ross Memorial Hospital and Nurse's Home at 172:, the Mexican Power Company etc. He was Honorary 1112: 481:in England, reorganising and electrifying that. 212:; and the Protestant Hospital for the Insane at 592:. Between 1897 and 1912, the Maxwell brothers ( 523:led the development via joint-venture with the 270:. On Lake Ontario, Ross came into contact with 452: 196:. He owned several yachts including two named 87:Civil engineer, businessman and philanthropist 889: 887: 885: 883: 881: 879: 713:17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars 490:São Paulo Tramway, Light and Power Company 178:17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars 31: 1131:Scottish expatriates in the United States 1070:. Ross Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home 982: 935: 933: 931: 929: 927: 980: 978: 976: 974: 972: 970: 968: 966: 964: 962: 821:The Rosses were the parents of one son, 797: 735:, Jockey, Royal Golf and Racquet Clubs. 665:, which won the coveted and prestigious 565: 553: 503:to provide electricity for Mexico City. 364:. Ross then negotiated the entry of the 876: 837:, he married Iris de Lisser, sister of 479:City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd 439:George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen 1113: 924: 864:List of Bishop's College School alumni 1181:19th-century Canadian philanthropists 959: 653:and the first Canadian member of the 759:. In his will, he directed his son, 441:and Van Horne, they established the 407:Mann preparing and grading roadbeds, 1151:Canadian Pacific Railway executives 709:Canadian Society of Civil Engineers 437:. In a later 1887 partnership with 387: 257: 13: 769:Protestant Hospital for the Insane 435:Canada Land and Investment Company 188:. He was an avid collector of the 14: 1197: 1086: 802:Mrs Annie (Kerr) Ross (1847–1915) 775:, of which he became a Governor. 721:Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal 443:Lake of the Woods Milling Company 431:Calgary and Edmonton Land Company 993:Dictionary of Canadian Biography 625:McGill University Faculty of Law 600:) expanded the house, adding an 738: 549: 540:Dominion Iron and Steel Company 507:Dominion Bridge, Coal and Steel 419:Winnipeg and Hudson Bay Railway 325:, by 7 November 1885, over the 323:Craigellachie, British Columbia 124:(1848 – 20 September 1913), of 1176:Bishop's College School alumni 1103:Obituary of James Ross in the 1060: 1049: 1026: 1004: 913: 897:. Ancestry.com. Archived from 703:. He was a member of both the 680:. The yacht (which he renamed 374:International Railway of Maine 1: 869: 778:Ross was a generous donor to 647:Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club 447:Columbia River Lumber Company 223: 1156:Businesspeople from Montreal 1136:Scottish emigrants to Canada 1093:James Ross at Quebec History 814:and formerly the Sheriff of 784:Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 571:Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 427:Calgary and Edmonton Railway 423:Regina and Long Lake Railway 278:, and in 1879, he built the 247:Ulster and Delaware Railroad 194:Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 132:, of which he was the major 7: 998:University of Toronto Press 857: 767:in 1915. He also built the 613:Trowbridge & Livingston 477:. They later took over the 463:street railways in Montreal 453:Street cars and electricity 421:, and constructed both the 368:into the American state of 311:William Cornelius Van Horne 268:Lake Ontario Shore Railroad 10: 1202: 1121:People from the Black Isle 525:St Lawrence Bridge Company 488:and the highly profitable 350:Ontario and Quebec Railway 284:Ontario and Quebec Railway 168:. He was president of the 1146:Canadian railway pioneers 823:John Kenneth Leveson Ross 793: 649:. He was a member of the 584:mansion for Ross at 3644 362:Michigan Central Railroad 360:line, and onwards to the 264:Wisconsin Central Railway 252: 228:Ross was born in 1848 at 109: 99: 91: 83: 73: 58: 39: 30: 23: 1171:McGill University people 1141:Canadian civil engineers 1126:Scottish civil engineers 636:Montreal Art Association 619:. He then donated it to 404:Ross as general manager, 309:, in 1883 under new CEO 303:Canadian Pacific Railway 130:Canadian Pacific Railway 1098:Biography of James Ross 816:Ulster County, New York 753:Royal Victoria Hospital 717:Bishop's College School 659:Royal Thames Yacht Club 517:Dominion Bridge Company 511:In 1890, Ross replaced 242:Inverness Royal Academy 240:. Ross was educated at 186:Royal Victoria Hospital 170:Dominion Bridge Company 78:Inverness Royal Academy 1186:Royal Canadian Hussars 1056:James Ross of Montreal 1038:12 August 2021 at the 941:"Obituary, James Ross" 854:on 20 September 1913. 827:Wilmot Deloui Matthews 803: 765:Ross Memorial Pavilion 749:Ross Memorial Hospital 715:. He was a Trustee of 573: 563: 471:Toronto Street Railway 801: 667:Seawanhaka Corinthian 569: 557: 544:High Court of Justice 536:Dominion Coal Company 280:Credit Valley Railway 192:and president of the 655:Royal Yacht Squadron 582:French château-style 562:in Montreal, c. 1910 202:Royal Yacht Squadron 113:Captain John R. Ross 1014:. McGill University 996:(online ed.). 947:. 21 September 1913 729:Constitutional Club 701:Royal Trust Company 651:New York Yacht Club 604:among other rooms. 576:In 1892, architect 945:The New York Times 920:James Leveson Ross 901:on 3 November 2012 852:Golden Square Mile 808:Kingston, New York 804: 719:, Governor of the 607:Ross' only child, 590:Golden Square Mile 574: 564: 521:James Pawley Dawes 218:Golden Square Mile 216:. He lived in the 174:Lieutenant-Colonel 122:James Leveson Ross 44:James Leveson Ross 780:McGill University 725:McGill University 621:McGill University 527:to construct the 288:William Mackenzie 238:Newcastle-on-Tyne 182:McGill University 119: 118: 62:20 September 1913 1193: 1080: 1079: 1077: 1075: 1064: 1058: 1053: 1047: 1044:Law Focus online 1030: 1024: 1023: 1021: 1019: 1008: 1002: 1001: 984: 957: 956: 954: 952: 937: 922: 917: 911: 910: 908: 906: 891: 812:Democratic Party 745:Lindsay, Ontario 697:Bank of Montreal 515:as president of 475:Winnipeg Transit 457:After moving to 388:Railway investor 343:"The Last Spike" 315:Andrew Onderdonk 276:Victoria Railway 258:Railway engineer 210:Lindsay, Ontario 180:and Governor of 115:Mary B. McKeddie 68:, Quebec, Canada 35: 21: 20: 1201: 1200: 1196: 1195: 1194: 1192: 1191: 1190: 1111: 1110: 1089: 1084: 1083: 1073: 1071: 1068:"James L. Ross" 1066: 1065: 1061: 1054: 1050: 1046:, February 2018 1040:Wayback Machine 1031: 1027: 1017: 1015: 1010: 1009: 1005: 986: 985: 960: 950: 948: 939: 938: 925: 918: 914: 904: 902: 893: 892: 877: 872: 860: 839:H. G. de Lisser 829:(1850–1919) of 796: 747:, he built the 741: 678:Joseph Pulitzer 598:William Maxwell 552: 509: 455: 390: 372:, building the 327:Rocky Mountains 296:Herbert S. Holt 260: 255: 226: 138:Lord Strathcona 136:, and advising 114: 69: 63: 54: 48: 46: 45: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1199: 1189: 1188: 1183: 1178: 1173: 1168: 1163: 1158: 1153: 1148: 1143: 1138: 1133: 1128: 1123: 1109: 1108: 1105:Ottawa Citizen 1100: 1095: 1088: 1087:External links 1085: 1082: 1081: 1059: 1048: 1025: 1003: 958: 923: 912: 874: 873: 871: 868: 867: 866: 859: 856: 795: 792: 773:Verdun, Quebec 740: 737: 617:J.W. McConnell 588:in Montreal's 551: 548: 508: 505: 497:hydro electric 454: 451: 415: 414: 411: 408: 405: 389: 386: 272:George Laidlaw 259: 256: 254: 251: 225: 222: 214:Verdun, Quebec 117: 116: 111: 107: 106: 101: 97: 96: 93: 89: 88: 85: 81: 80: 75: 71: 70: 64: 60: 56: 55: 49: 43: 41: 37: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1198: 1187: 1184: 1182: 1179: 1177: 1174: 1172: 1169: 1167: 1164: 1162: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1147: 1144: 1142: 1139: 1137: 1134: 1132: 1129: 1127: 1124: 1122: 1119: 1118: 1116: 1107: 1106: 1101: 1099: 1096: 1094: 1091: 1090: 1069: 1063: 1057: 1052: 1045: 1041: 1037: 1034: 1029: 1013: 1007: 999: 995: 994: 989: 983: 981: 979: 977: 975: 973: 971: 969: 967: 965: 963: 946: 942: 936: 934: 932: 930: 928: 921: 916: 900: 896: 890: 888: 886: 884: 882: 880: 875: 865: 862: 861: 855: 853: 849: 848: 842: 840: 836: 832: 828: 824: 819: 817: 813: 809: 800: 791: 789: 785: 781: 776: 774: 770: 766: 762: 758: 754: 750: 746: 736: 734: 733:Montreal Hunt 730: 726: 722: 718: 714: 710: 706: 702: 698: 693: 691: 687: 683: 679: 675: 673: 668: 664: 660: 656: 652: 648: 644: 639: 637: 633: 628: 626: 622: 618: 614: 610: 605: 603: 599: 595: 591: 587: 583: 579: 572: 568: 561: 556: 547: 545: 541: 537: 532: 530: 529:Quebec Bridge 526: 522: 518: 514: 504: 502: 498: 493: 491: 487: 482: 480: 476: 472: 468: 464: 460: 450: 448: 444: 440: 436: 432: 428: 424: 420: 412: 409: 406: 403: 402: 401: 399: 395: 385: 383: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 359: 355: 351: 346: 344: 340: 336: 332: 328: 324: 320: 319:Swift Current 316: 312: 308: 304: 299: 297: 293: 289: 285: 281: 277: 273: 269: 266:and then the 265: 250: 248: 243: 239: 235: 231: 221: 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 199: 195: 191: 187: 183: 179: 175: 171: 167: 163: 159: 155: 151: 147: 143: 139: 135: 131: 127: 123: 112: 108: 105: 104:J. K. L. Ross 102: 98: 94: 90: 86: 84:Occupation(s) 82: 79: 76: 72: 67: 61: 57: 52: 42: 38: 34: 29: 22: 19: 1104: 1074:13 September 1072:. Retrieved 1062: 1051: 1043: 1028: 1016:. Retrieved 1006: 1000:. 1979–2016. 991: 988:"James Ross" 949:. Retrieved 944: 915: 903:. Retrieved 899:the original 895:"James Ross" 845: 843: 820: 805: 777: 768: 764: 748: 742: 739:Philanthropy 694: 681: 670: 662: 640: 629: 606: 580:completed a 575: 550:Private life 533: 510: 494: 483: 456: 416: 391: 347: 341:, who drove 300: 261: 227: 197: 121: 120: 18: 1166:1913 deaths 1161:1848 births 788:Old Masters 761:J.K.L. Ross 690:state rooms 688:, numerous 632:Old Masters 602:art gallery 586:Peel Street 578:Bruce Price 560:Peel Street 486:Mexico City 382:shareholder 292:Donald Mann 190:Old Masters 162:Mexico City 160:(England), 134:shareholder 1115:Categories 870:References 755:, both in 686:auditorium 513:Job Abbott 467:Saint John 335:Gold Range 224:Early life 158:Birmingham 154:Saint John 95:Annie Kerr 53:, Scotland 25:James Ross 847:Glencairn 723:, and of 682:Glencairn 663:Glencairn 643:Commodore 609:Jack Ross 394:Argentina 234:shipowner 206:Royal Vic 198:Glencairn 166:São Paulo 110:Parent(s) 74:Education 1036:Archived 1018:15 April 858:See also 757:Montreal 707:and the 705:American 699:and the 657:and the 459:Montreal 433:and the 425:and the 354:Montreal 333:and the 331:Selkirks 307:Winnipeg 305:west of 230:Cromarty 184:and the 150:Winnipeg 142:Montreal 126:Montreal 100:Children 66:Montreal 51:Cromarty 951:3 April 905:3 April 835:Jamaica 831:Toronto 672:Liberty 645:of the 358:Windsor 176:of the 146:Toronto 794:Family 594:Edward 501:Necaxa 469:, the 378:Bangor 329:, the 253:Career 92:Spouse 398:Chile 370:Maine 1076:2014 1020:2018 953:2011 907:2011 596:and 473:and 396:and 294:and 164:and 59:Died 47:1848 40:Born 771:at 366:CPR 356:to 1117:: 1042:, 990:. 961:^ 943:. 926:^ 878:^ 841:. 818:. 790:. 531:. 465:, 384:. 345:. 298:. 290:, 249:. 220:. 156:, 152:, 148:, 144:, 1078:. 1022:. 955:. 909:. 674:,

Index


Cromarty
Montreal
Inverness Royal Academy
J. K. L. Ross
Montreal
Canadian Pacific Railway
shareholder
Lord Strathcona
Montreal
Toronto
Winnipeg
Saint John
Birmingham
Mexico City
São Paulo
Dominion Bridge Company
Lieutenant-Colonel
17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars
McGill University
Royal Victoria Hospital
Old Masters
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Vic
Lindsay, Ontario
Verdun, Quebec
Golden Square Mile
Cromarty
shipowner

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