Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Ross, William Stewart
ROSS, WILLIAM STEWART, known by the pseudonym of 'Saladin' (1844–1906), secularist, born at Kirkbean, Galloway, on 20 March 1844, was son of Joseph Ross, a farm servant and a presbyterian. In early Ufe Ross developed a love for poetry and romance. After being educated at the parish school of New Abbey, Kirkcudbrightshire, and at Hutton Hall Academy, Caerlaverock, he became usher at Hutton Hall, and in 1861 was for a short time master at Glenesshn school, Dunscore. After two years as assistant at Hutton Hall Academy, during which he occasionally contributed to newspapers and periodicals, he went in 1864 to Glasgow University to prepare for the Scottish ministry. There he showed much promise as a debater at the Dialectical Society. Conscientious scruples prevented the completion of his theological course. While at the university he sent fugitive pieces in poetry and prose to the 'Dumfries-shire and Galloway Herald,' of which Thomas Aird [q. v.] was editor, and to the 'Dumfries and Galloway Standard,' edited by William M'Dowall [q. v.]. The favourable reception of a novel, 'Mildred Merlock,' which was published serially in the 'Glasgow Weekly Mail,' and brought him forty guineas, finally led him to seek a livelihood from his pen.
On the invitation of the publisher Thomas Laurie, Ross went to London to assist in the publishing of educational works. In 1872 he turned writer and publisher of educational works on his own account at 41 Farringdon Street, calling his firm WiUiam Stewart & Co. Many works on English history and literature' came from his pen and press. He published books by John Daniel Morell [q. v.], John Miller Dow Meiklejohn [q. v. Suppl. II], and issued 'Stewart's Local Examination' series, and 'Stewart's Mathematical' series of handbooks, as well as four educational magazines, of one of which, the 'School Magazine,' he succeeded Dr. Morell as editor.
In London Ross entered with enthusiasm into the free-thought movement, assisting Charles Bradlaugh [q. v. Suppl. I] in the 'National Reformer' in his struggle for liberty of thought and speech. The publication by Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant of Knowlton's neo-Malthusian pamphlet, 'The Fruits of Philosophy,' in 1877-8 alienated Ross's sympathies, and he subsequently contributed to the rival free-thought newspaper, the 'Secular Review.' This was amalgamated in June 1877 with the 'Secularist' under the joint editorship of Mr. Charles Watts and Mr. G. W. Foote, and in 1880 Rosa became joint editor with Watts, and finally in August 1884 sole editor and proprietor. The name of the journal was changed in January 1889 to the 'Agnostic Journal and Secular Review.' Ross, who wrote for the paper under the pseudonym of 'Saladin,' raised the circulation of the journal by his literary energy and business ability. An outspoken writer on both theology and sociology, he embodied much pungent criticism in 'God and his Book' (1887; new edit. 1906), and in 'Woman, her Glory and her Shame' (2 vols. 1894; new edit. 1906).
Ross was also an enthusiastic writer of verse. His narrative poems, 'Lays of Romance and Chivalry ' (1881, 12mo) and 'Isaure and other Poems' (1887), are full of fervour, and betray the influence of Sir Walter Scott. Ross won the medal for the best poem commemorating the unveiling by Lord Rosebery of the statue to Robert Burns at Dumfries in 1879, and also the gold medal for the best poem describing the visit of Kossuth to the grave of Burns.
Ross died of heart failure at Brixton on 30 Nov. 1906, and was buried at Woking cemetery. His wife (born Sherar), who was a teacher at Hutton Hall, survived him with three sons and a daughter.
[The Times, 25 Dec. 1906; Agnostic Journal, 8 Dec, 1906 (special memoir number), 15 Dec. 1906 (with portrait); Gordon G. Flaws, Sketch of the Life and Character of Saladin (W. Stewart Ross), 1883; Biograph, 1879, ii. 155; H. R. Hithersay and G. Ernest, Sketch of the Life of Saladin, 1872.]