Alexander Charles Ross

Alexander Charles Ross (May 29, 1847 – July 30, 1921) was a business executive and political figure from Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented North Cape Breton and Victoria in the House of Commons of Canada from 1906 to 1908 as a Liberal.[1]

Alexander Charles Ross was involved in the founding of the Dominion Coal Co. in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Alexander Charles Ross, between 1881 and 1901. Federal Liberal M.P. for North Cape Breton-Victoria, Nova Scotia, 1906–1908.
Alexander C. Ross was a charter member and early Commodore of the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club, Sydney, Nova Scotia.

He was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, the son of Rev. Hugh E. Ross, of Scottish descent. In 1869, he married Marian Peters. Ross was party to the founding of the Dominion Coal Company and the Dominion Iron and Steel Company,[2] which merged with the Nova Scotia Steel Company to form the British Empire Steel Corporation (BESCO), ultimately becoming the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation (DOSCO) in 1928. He was also president of the Sydney Cement Company.[3]

In the 1891 census he's listed as Superintendent of the North Sydney Electric Light Co.,[4] which became part of the Cape Breton Electric Tramway & Power Co., formed in 1900, which in turn was renamed the Cape Breton Electric Co. in 1901. In the 1901[5] and 1921[6] censuses his occupation is listed as real estate, and he was once the largest owner of real estate in Sydney, Nova Scotia.[7]

Ross was a charter member of the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club,[8] founded in 1899,[9] and was an early Commodore of the club.[10]

He was elected to the House of Commons in a 1906 by-election held after Daniel Duncan McKenzie was named a judge. On the day Ross first took his seat in the House of Commons in 1906, introduced by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, he was described in the Ottawa Journal thusly: "The New Member is at once one of the striking figures of the Commons; tall, straight and dignified his appearance is imposing. His hair and moustache are silver grey, and his complexion ruddy.”[11]

Ross lost the Liberal nomination for his riding to Judge McKenzie in 1908,[12] and hence did not run for re-election.[1]

During his time in office, Ross disagreed with the Liberal Party position regarding Maritime Intercolonial Railway running rights (i.e. opening the federally-owned line for use by privately owned railway companies, which Laurier did not support).[13] He publicly broke with the Liberal party in 1914 due to the same issue, throwing his weight instead behind Sir Robert Borden's Conservatives,[7] who did support running rights. He also disagreed with Laurier's stance on the issue of Reciprocity (i.e. free trade with the U.S.A.),[7] which Laurier was for and Borden was against.

References
  1. Alexander Charles Ross – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. The Canadian Parliament; biographical sketches and photo-engravures of the senators and members of the House of Commons of Canada. Being the tenth Parliament, elected November 3, 1904. Robarts - University of Toronto. Montreal Perrault Print. Co. 1906.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1908, EJ Chambers
  4. Year: 1891; Census Place: North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada; Roll: T-6310; Family No: 283
  5. Year: 1901; Census Place: Sydney (Town/Ville), Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; Page: 46; Family No: 371
  6. 1921 Census of Canada; Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 143; Census Place: Papineau Ward, Montreal (City), Montreal (Ste Marie), Quebec; Page Number: 6
  7. "Once Liberal But Now Conservative". Montreal Gazette. April 18, 1914. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  8. Browne, N. Milton (August 1908). "Yachting on the Finest Harbour in the Dominion". Rod and Gun. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  9. Browne, N. Milton (August 1908). "Yachting on the Finest Harbour in the Dominion". Rod and Gun.
  10. "$75,000 Raised for Challenger". Halifax Herald. September 13, 1920.
  11. "Quiet Day In the Commons". The Ottawa Evening Journal. April 3, 1906. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  12. "Dissolution Near: To Oppose Stanfield". The Montreal Gazette. 11 September 1908. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  13. "A Conscientious Member". Montreal Gazette. July 25, 1908. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
Alexander Charles Ross was involved in the founding of the Dominion Coal Co. in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
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