Robert Ross, 5th

Lord Ross The title of Lord Ross was a Lordship of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1499 for Sir John Ross, of Halkhead. The second Lord died at the Battle of Flodden. The 12th Lord was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Renfrew in 17 ...

of Halkhead (1563 – October 1595) was a Scottish nobleman.

Origins

Ross was the eldest son and heir of

James Ross, 4th Lord Ross James Ross, 4th Lord Ross of Halkhead (died 2 April 1581) was a Scottish nobleman and an adherent to the cause of Mary, Queen of Scots. Origins Ross was the second, but oldest surviving son of Ninian Ross, 3rd Lord Ross, who died in February 1 ...

, who died on 2 April 1581, by Jean, daughter of Robert, 3rd Lord Sempill. The Rosses of Halkhead, or Hawkhead, in

Renfrewshire Renfrewshire () (; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. Renfrewshire is located in the west central Lowlands. It borders East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire, and lies on the southern ba ...

, were a

Lowland Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland. Definitions Upland and lowland are portions of a ...

family, not apparently related to the

Earls of Ross The Earl or Mormaer of Ross was the ruler of the province of Ross in northern Scotland, as well as chief of Clan Ross. Origins and transfers In the early Middle Ages, Ross was part of the vast earldom of Moray. It seems to have been made ...

or the

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally, ''upland'' refers to a range of hills, typically from up to , while ''highland'' is usually reserved for range ...

family of

Ross Ross may refer to: People and fictional characters * Ross (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name Ross, as well as the meaning * Clan Ross, a Highland Scottish clan Places Antarctica * Ross Sea ...

Balnagown Balnagown Castle (also Balnagowan)(Ross Castle) is beside the village of Kildary in Easter Ross, part of the Highland area of Scotland. There has been a castle on the site since the 14th century, although the present building was remodelled in ...

. Sir James Balfour Paul, ''

The Scots Peerage ''The Scots Peerage'' is a nine-volume book series of the Scottish nobility compiled and edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, published in Edinburgh from 1904 to 1914. The full title is ''The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Rober ...

'', Volume VII Ross had sasines of the lands of Halkhead on 30 October 1581, of

Broomlands Broomlands is district of Irvine in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Situated on a series of bends in the River Annick, Broomlands and its original features are now almost lost within the south- Bourtreehill and Broomlands housing scheme. Histo ...

and "Roisholm" on 15 May 1583 and of Tarbert, in Ayrshire, in 1590.

Career

On 19 May 1584 Ross attended the parliament in

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

at which the Earl of Angus, the

Earl of Mar There are currently two earldoms of Mar in the Peerage of Scotland, and the title has been created seven times. The first creation of the earldom is currently held by Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar, who is also clan chief of Clan Mar. Th ...

and

Lord Glamis Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or are e ...

were found guilty of treason. Towards the end of his life, Ross fell out with

James VI James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...

. On 29 May 1591, James VI wrote to Robert Mure of Caldwell, requesting him to use his influence with Ross to make him pay rents due to the royal servants John Stewart of Rosland and William Stewart for the lands of Foulbar. Mure's good offices proved insufficient and, on 30 September 1591, James wrote to Lord Hamilton to inform him that Ross remained in rebellion and to direct him to take steps to bring Ross to justice. Ross died in October 1595. The English diplomat George Nicholson wrote that he was "dead upon the hurt of the breach of his gun." Administration of his estates was given to

Walter Stewart, 1st Lord Blantyre Walter Stewart, 1st Lord Blantyre (1555–1617) was a Scottish courtier and politician. He was Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1582 to 1596 and Treasurer of Scotland from 1596 to 1599. Early life He was born , the son of Sir John ...

.''Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1595-1597'', vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1952), p. 55.

Family

Ross married Jean Hamilton, daughter of Gavin Hamilton of Raploch. She survived him and married Sir Robert Melville before dying in May 1631. Ross had two legitimate sons -

James Ross, 6th Lord Ross James Ross, 6th Lord Ross of Halkhead (died 17 December 1633) was a Scottish nobleman. Origins Ross was the eldest son and heir of Robert Ross, 5th Lord Ross, who died in October 1595, by Jean, daughter of Gavin Hamilton of Raploch. The Rosses ...

and Robert (died March 1617) - as well as an illegitimate daughter, Elspeth (who married James Miller, an advocate).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Robert, 5th Lord Ross 1563 births 1595 deaths Nobility from Renfrewshire History of Renfrewshire 5