A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ross, Robert
ROSS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)
Robert Ross (whose name had been borne on the books of the Cambridge 74, guard-ship at Plymouth) embarked, 16 July, 1803, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board the Sea Flower 14, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Fitzwilliam Owen, attached to the fleet in the Channel; where, from Aug. 1804 (seven months after he had left that vessel) until Feb. 1808, he served, the greater part of the time with the rating of Midshipman, in the Prince George 98, Capts. Joseph Sydney Yorke and Geo. Losack, Barfleur 98, Capt. Sir J. S. Yorke, and Foudroyant 80, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Albemarle Bertie. After he had been further employed on the Lisbon and North Sea stations in the Minotaur 74, Capt. Norborne Thompson, and Christian VII. 80, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Pellew, he joined, in Oct. 1810, the Galatea 42, Capt. Woodley Losack; under whom, while cruizing off Madagascar, in company with the Astraea and Phoebe, frigates about equal in force to the Galatea, and 18-gun brig Racehorse, we find him, 20 May, 1811, participating in a long and trying action with the French 40-gun frigates Rénommée, Clorinde, and Néréide, in which the Galatea, besides being much damaged in her hull, masts, and rigging, sustained a loss of 16 men killed and 46 wounded. Quitting her in Jan. 1813, Mr. Ross was next, until Sept. 1815, employed on the American and Home stations in the Saturn 56, Capts. Jas. Nash and Thos. Brown, Bittern sloop, Capt. Geo. Augustus Hire, and Superb 74, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Henry Hotham. He then took up a commission bearing date 10 March, 1815; and has not been since afloat.