Arthur Edward Ross
Arthur Edward Ross was a Canadian physician and political figure in Ontario. He represented Kingston in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1911 to 1921 and represented Kingston and then Kingston City in the House of Commons of Canada from 1921 to 1935 as a Conservative member.
He was born in Cobden, Ontario, the son of John Ross. Ross was educated at Queen's University and the University of Edinburgh. In 1902, he married Mabel Parker. Ross served on the city council for Kingston, serving as mayor in 1908. In the same year, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons. He served briefly in the provincial cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio from September to November 1919 and resigned in 1921 to enter federal politics. He married Anne Ethel Stinson on January 24, 1923. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1921 federal election and was re-elected several times until he was defeated in a bid for reelection in 1935.
Ross served during the Second Boer War. He was an officer in the 1st Canadian Field Ambulance during World War I, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and later served as Director of Medical Services for the Canadian Expeditionary Force, serving as a Brigadier-General. Ross was credited with being the first to find measures to combat "trench foot" and the effects of mustard gas, as well as being the first to use light relays to evacuate the wounded.
He stated that, regarding the Battle of Vimy Ridge, "...in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation." This phrase is quoted on page 23 of the Canadian passport. The French translation, "...en ces quelques minutes je fus témoin de la naissance d'un pays." is on page 22.
Ross was rector for Queen's University from 1920 to 1924.Archives
There is an Arthur Edward Ross fonds at Library and Archives Canada. Archival reference number is R2003.
