George Ross | Founding Father, Signer

George Ross was a Delaware-born businessman who settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and became a Patriot leader during the American Revolution. Elected to the Continental Congress in July 1776, he signed the Declaration of Independence, making him one of the nation’s Founding Fathers.

Overview

George Ross was a Delaware-born lawyer, soldier, and politician who rose to prominence during the American Revolution. After building a successful legal practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Ross was elected to the First Continental Congress, where he signed the Continental Association and other key documents. In 1775, he served on the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, wrote rules of conduct for the state’s military forces, and briefly served as a Colonel of the Pennsylvania Associators. He was sent back to Congress in July 1776 as a replacement for Pennsylvania delegates who did not support independence. Ross signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776, securing his place as a Founding Father. After returning to Pennsylvania, he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Admiralty Court, where he oversaw the controversial “Active Case,” an early dispute over States’ Rights.

Personal Facts

Born: May 10, 1730, in New Castle, Delaware.
Parents: Reverend George Ross (father), Catherine Van Gezel (mother).
Spouse: Anne Lawler (1751).
Died: July 14, 1779, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was 49.
Buried: Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Part of:
- Pennsylvania Delegates to the First Continental Congress
- Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Biography

Early Life

George Ross was born in New Castle, Delaware, on May 10, 1730. He was the eldest son of Reverend George Ross and his second wife, Catherine Van Gezel. Reverend Ross graduated from the University of Edinburgh and trained to be a minister in the Presbyterian Church, but he decided the Church was too strict and joined the Church of England. After emigrating from Scotland to America as a missionary, Reverend Ross served for many years as the rector of Immanuel Church in New Castle.

In his youth, Ross received a classical education.
Later, he studied the law with his stepbrother, John, in Philadelphia.

Legal Career

Ross was admitted to the bar in 1750 and then settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he opened his own practice. He served as the Crown’s prosecutor in Cumberland County for 12 years.

Marriage

One of his early clients was Anne Lawler, a well-educated woman of Scotch-Irish descent. The two married on August 17, 1751. They later had two sons and one daughter.

Early Political Service

Ross entered politics when voters elected him to the Provincial Assembly in 1768. Over the next seven years, he became known for his strong interest in Native American Indian issues and for defending the Assembly in its disputes with the Governor.

Ross was elected to the Provincial Conference at Philadelphia in July 1774.
He was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress later in 1774, even though many people believed he was a Loyalist.

Support for Independence

By 1775, Ross had become one of the most dedicated supporters of the Patriot Cause, serving as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, and the Second Continental Congress.

Ross also served briefly as a militia Colonel in the Pennsylvania Associators.
In 1776, he helped negotiate with the Lenape Indians at Fort Pitt to ease tensions in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Ross served as the Vice President of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1776, helped write the Declaration of Rights, and took an active role in the convention’s debates. Ross opposed the final version of the Pennsylvania Constitution, over concerns that it was too democratic.

On July 20, 1776, the convention elected him to Congress when it replaced its delegates who had refused to support independence, including John Dickinson. Ross signed the engrossed copy of the Declaration on August 2.

AHC Notes

Ross was joined by George Taylor, George Clymer, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and James Smith as replacements for the delegates who opposed independence.
Illness forced him to leave Congress in January 1777.

Pennsylvania Politics

Ross supported Pennsylvania’s new government for several years. By 1779, he joined others in believing that the troubles of the American Revolutionary War required constitutional reform.

The Active Case

On March 1, 1779, Ross received his commission as Judge of the Pennsylvania Admiralty Court, although he had already been serving in that role. During this time, he presided over the well-known case Olmsted et al. v. Rittenhouse’s Executors, which concerned the capture of the sloop Active and is more commonly known as the “Active Case.”

The British sloop Active left Jamaica in August 1778 and sailed for New York.
Four American crewmen, including Gideon Olmsted of Connecticut, seized control of the ship during the night of September 6.
The Pennsylvania ship Convention and the privateer Gerard seized the Active two days later.
The captains of Convention and Gerard claimed part of the prize money from the captured ship.
Olmsted challenged those claims and argued for a larger share of the prize.

Even though Ross agreed with Olmsted, the jury ruled that he and the crewmen were entitled to one-fourth of the prize. Ross stated that the law required him to confirm the verdict.

Congress overturned the verdict and awarded the entire prize to Olmsted and the others.
Ross refused to accept the ruling and said he would not submit to what he viewed as an attempt to seize his court’s authority.
In a detailed defense of his position, he argued that the court of appeals could set aside a judge’s decision on a question of law, but its power ended there.

Under Pennsylvania’s law, Ross believed the jury’s verdict on the facts was final and could not be appealed to another government body. The dispute between Congress and Pennsylvania continued for more than 30 years and is recognized as an early example of a States’ Rights dispute.

Death

Ross died suddenly on July 14, 1779, while in Philadelphia after a severe attack of gout. Known for his friendly nature and humor, Ross enjoyed good company, and on his deathbed, he calmly said he was starting a long trip to a cool place “where there were most excellent wines” and that he expected to “fare deliciously.”

Accomplishments and Milestones

1730, May 10 — George Ross was born in New Castle, Delaware.
1750 — Ross became a lawyer and established a successful practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
1768 — He was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly.
1774 — Ross was elected to the First Continental Congress.
1775 — He served on the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety and wrote rules of conduct for the state’s military forces.
1776 — Ross helped negotiate with the Lenape at Fort Pitt.
1776, July 20 — He was elected to the Second Continental Congress.
1776, August 2 — Ross signed the Declaration of Independence.
1779, March — Pennsylvania appointed Ross as judge of the Pennsylvania Admiralty Court.
1779, July 14 — He died of gout at his home in Lancaster.

AP US History Alignment

Alignment

George Ross is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:

Definition

George Ross (1730–1779) — Ross was a Pennsylvania lawyer, legislator, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence who shifted from moderate Loyalist views to active support for the Patriot Cause. He served in the Pennsylvania Assembly, participated in the Continental Congress, and helped frame Pennsylvania’s 1776 constitution. Later appointed judge of the state’s admiralty court, he played a central role in the Active Case, a major dispute over State and Federal authority.

Written by Randal Rust