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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mr. John Ross

Mr. John Ross , Senior Partner in the firm of Messrs Ross and Glendining, was born in the County of Caithness, in the north of Scotland, on the 24th of November, 1834, his father, the late Mr. John Ross, being, at that time, a miller there. He was educated at the village schools in his native place, subsequently served an apprenticeship to the drapery trade at Lybster, near Wick, and later on became manager of the soft-goods department of a general store in a neighbouring county. In 1861 he sailed from London in the barque “Velore, a vessel of 480 tons, for Dunedin, and brought with him a drapery stock valued at several thousand pounds. On his arrival, after a prolonged voyage of five months, Mr. Ross joined the firm of Messrs Begg, Christie, and Co., being a partner in that business during the year 1861–2, when the large influx of population from Victoria produced such an unprecedented activity in the commercial life of the city. In 1862 he bought his partners' interests in the business, and was joined by Mr. Robert Glendining, in conjunction with whom he laid the foundation of the present extensive firm of Messrs Ross and Glendining. In 1870 Mr. Ross went Home to take charge of the firm's business in London, and resided there till 1902, when, on account of ill health, he returned to Dunedin. During his long sojourn in London Mr. Ross identified himself with many phases of active life in the great metropolis, and became a member of the London Chamber of Commerce, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute, and of the Japan Society. He was also the London adviser of the National Insurance Company, and a director of the firm of Messrs Thos. Brown and Sons, of Brisbane. Mr. Ross was married, in 1870, to Miss Margaret Watson Cassels, of Dunedin, and has a family of three sons and three daughters. The eldest son is employed in the Wellington branch of the firm; the second is (1903–4) studying engineering at Cambridge University; and the youngest is employed at the Roslyn Worsted and Woollen Mills.