The first chiefs of the Scottish Highland, Clan Ross were also the original Earls of Ross. That title later went to other families in the late 14th century and from then on the chiefs of Clan Ross were designated as "of Balnagowan". This was because their seat was at Balnagowen Castle. The chiefship of the clan has since passed to various branches of the clan. The current chief is David Campbell Ross who descends from Hugh Ross the 4th of Balnagowan. The following is a list of the chiefs of Clan Ross.

Name of Clan Ross Chief Chief until Further details
Fearchar, Earl of Ross (Fequhard 1st Earl of Ross) (Also known as Ferchar mac in tSagairt). 1249 Crushed a rebellion in Moray and Ross, brought the King the heads of the rebel leaders and was knighted on 15 June 1215.
Uilleam I, Earl of Ross (William 2nd Earl of Ross) 1274 Justiciar of Scotland, North. Dau of William Comyn, Earl of Buchan.
Uilleam II, Earl of Ross (William 3rd Earl of Ross) 1323 Changed sides during the Wars of Independence, his son Walter fought at Bannockburn for Scotland.
Aodh, Earl of Ross (Hugh 4th Earl of Ross) 1334 A favorite of King Robert the Bruce. Married the Bruce's sister, Matilda.
Uilleam III, Earl of Ross

(William 5th Earl of Ross)

The last Chief of Clan Ross that was also Earl of Ross.

 1372
Hugh Ross of Rarichies later the 1st of Balnagowan. 1374 Hugh Ross of Rarichies who later became the 1st of Balnagowan was descended from Aodh, 4th Earl of Ross. He took over as Chief of the Clan Ross when Uilleam III 5th Earl of Ross died in 1372, however the title of Earl of Ross had gone elsewhere (see above). Hugh Ross's daughter Jean Ross married Robert de Munro, 8th Baron of Foulis.
William Ross 2nd of Balnagowan 1412 Married Catherine, daughter of Paul Mactire.
Walter Ross 3rd of Balnagowan 1412 ?
Hugh Ross 4th of Balnagowan 1497 Married the daughter of the Earl of Sutherland. The Earl of Sutherland was married to Helen Sinclair. Helen Sinclair was the daughter of the Earl of Orkney.
John Ross 5th of Balnagowan 1501 Married Christian daughter MacLeod of Torquil.
Alexander Ross 6th of Balnagowan 1486 Married Dorothy daughter of Alexander Sutherland, 3rd of Duffus. Killed leading the Clan Ross into battle against the Clan Mackay and Clan Sutherland at the Battle of Auldicharish (Battle of Strathcarron).
Sir David Ross 7th of Balnagowan 1527 Married Helen, daughter of Keith of Inverugie.
Walter Ross 8th of Balnagowan 1528 Married Marrion, daughter of Sir John Grant of Freuchie.
Alexander Ross 9th of Balnagowan 1592 Married Janet Sinclair, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Caithness.
George Ross 10th of Balnagowan 1615 Married Marrion, daughter of Sir John Campbell of Calder. Later married Isobel, daughter of Angus MacKintosh of Torcastle.
David Ross 11th of Balnagowan 1632 Married Mary, daughter of Alexander Earl of Sutherland.
David Ross 12th of Balnagowan 1653 Married Mary, daughter of the 7th Lord Fraser of Lovat. Fought at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 where he led some of the clan, captured and imprisoned at the Tower of London, said to have died there and been buried in Westminster.
David Ross 13th of Balnagowan 1711 Last of Balnagowan O' Beolain line. Married Anne, daughter of the 4th Earl of Moray. Left his estates to a stranger in blood: Charles Ross.
Lt-General Charles Ross, 14th of Balnagowan 1732 Second son of George Ross, 11th Lord Ross of Hawkhead. Also inherited the estates of Balnagowan.
Col. Charles Ross, 15th of Balnagowan. 1745 Second son of George Ross, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead. Killed in 1745 leading some members of the clan at the Battle of Fontenoy 30 April 1745.
George, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 16th of Balnagowan. 1754 Of the Hawkhead line of Ross.
William, 14th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 17th of Balnagowan. 1754 Of the Hawkhead line of Ross.
Grizel Lockhart Ross, daughter of William Ross, 12th Lord Ross of Hawkhead 1755 On expiry of the male Ross of Hawkhead line the estates of Balnagowan passed to James Lockhart of Carstairs whose grandfather had married Grizel the daughter of William Ross, 12th Lord Ross. Sir James assumed the name Lockhart-Ross.
Sir William Lockhart-Ross 1758 First of Lockhart line.
Sir James Lockhart-Ross 1760 Second of Lockhart line.
Sir George Lockhart-Ross 1778 Third of Lockhart line.
Admiral Sir John Lockhart-Ross 1790 Fourth of Lockhart line.
Lt. General Sir Charles Lockhart-Ross of Balnagown 1814 Fifth of Lockhart line.
Sir Charles William Augustus Lockhart-Ross of Balnagown 1893 Sixth and last of Lockhart-Ross line.
Ethel Frances Sarah Williamson Ross 1957 The Rosses of Pitcalnie. The Chiefship of Balnagowan then passed to a line who were direct descendants of Nicholas Ross who was the second son of Chief Alexander Ross 9th of Balnagowan who died in 1592. (The Chiefship back then had gone to Alexander's first son George 10th of Balnagowan who died in 1615)
Rosa Williamson Ross 1968 The Rosses of Pitcalnie.
David Campbell Ross The current Chief of Clan Ross. The Chiefship passed to another line of Rosses. The Rosses of Shandwick are direct descendants of William Ross who was killed in battle in 1486. William was the grandson of Hugh Ross the 4th of Balnagowan and the brother of Alexander Ross 6th of Balnagowan.

References

  • The Clan Ross by Donald by Donald MacKinnon. W & A.K Johnston's Clan Histories.
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