He was born on May 9, 1790, in Essex, then a town in Clinton County which became part of Essex County, New York in 1799. He was the son of Daniel Ross, who was Sheriff of Clinton County from 1794 to 1797, assemblyman in 1798, and First Judge of Essex County from 1800 to 1823, and Elizabeth (Gilliland) Ross.
Ross attended the common schools, and also was educated by his father and a private tutor. He graduated from Columbia College in 1808. Then he studied law with Ralph Hascall in Essex, New York, but returned in 1809 to New York City and continued his legal studies there with David B. Ogden.
Ross was admitted to the bar in 1811, and practiced in Essex, New York, throughout his life. During the War of 1812, he enlisted as a second lieutenant in the 37th Infantry Regiment of the New York State Militia, and fought in the Battle of Plattsburgh. He rose through the ranks, becoming a major general of the State Militia in 1828, and retired from the militia in 1836.
Ross was elected as an Adams man to the 19th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1827.
Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in Essex, New New York He was First Judge and Surrogate of the Essex County Court from 1847 to 1848. He was a presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1848 voting for Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.
Ross was buried in a vault on his family estate, "Hickory Hill," in Essex, New New York
