Born at Stone House, Hayton, Carlisle, the son of Field Marshal Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross (1779–1868) by his marriage to Elizabeth Graham, a daughter of Richard Graham, Ross was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade in 1846.
Between 1854 and 1855 he saw active service in the Crimean War, fighting at the battles of Alma, Inkermann, and Sebastopol. In 1856 he was promoted Major and went out to India. Between 1857 and 1858 in the Indian Mutiny he was at Cawnpore and Lucknow, and in 1863-1864 he fought in the North West Frontier Campaign.
Promoted Brigadier-General in the Bengal Army in 1874, Ross commanded the Perak Expedition of 1875–1876.
In 1878 he was in Malta, then served with the Second Division Calne Field Force from 1878 to 1879. In 1891 Ross was promoted full General and he retired the service in 1896.
In 1868, Ross had married Mary Hay, the daughter of A. M. Hay, who predeceased him. In retirement he lived at his birthplace, Stone House, Hayton, Cumberland, where his grounds were said to contain an exceptionally impressive evergreen oak.
His address at the time of his death was stated as Belgrave Mansions, Grosvenor Gardens, London Southwest. 1861: Companion of the Order of the Bath.
In London he was a member of the United Service Club.
