ROSS, John, merchant, born in Tain, County Ross, Scotland, 29 January, 1726; died in Philadelphia in March, 1800. He early removed to Perth, Scotland, and entered into mercantile pursuits, but in 1763 came to Philadelphia, where he became a shipping-merchant. At the beginning of the difficulties 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 that was held on 9 June, 1774, to consider a letter from the artificers of New York, and was a member of the committee to reply to the same. On 16 September, 1775, he was appointed muster-master of the Pennsylvania navy, which office he resigned, 23 February, 1776, on account of the importance of his commercial affairs. In May, 1776, he was employed by the committee of commerce of congress to purchase clothes, arms, and powder for the use of the army. This necessitated the establishment of agencies in Nantes and Paris, and repeated visits to France during the war. In this duty he advanced or pledged his credit for £20,000 more than he was supplied with by congress, much to his embarrassment and subsequent loss. He was on terms of familiar intercourse with Washington, Franklin, and Robert Morris, and there are several entries in the diary of General Washington, during the sittings of the convention to frame the United States constitution, of engagements to dine with Mr. Ross at his country place, the Grange, named after the home of Lafayette.