Background
Ross was born in 1856 to John Edgar Ross and Christina Graeme (Hathern) Ross.
Ross was born in 1856 to John Edgar Ross and Christina Graeme (Hathern) Ross.
He is also considered to be the first resident of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. On January 2, 1882, Ross, a western Canadian rancher born in London, Canada West, and four other men were scouting the location for the Canadian Pacific Railway divisional point when they became the first residents of the modern-day town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Four days later, Ross established a homestead on the site, becoming the town"s first permanent resident.
Soon after, Ross became an active participant in territorial government.
He continuously campaigned for responsible government and was active in the negotiations to create the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Ross also served as treasurer and then became the Commissioner of the Yukon Territory on March 11, 1901, becoming the first Yukon Commissioner to reside in Government House in Dawson City.
Ross ran for a seat to the Canadian House of Commons in a by-election held on December 2, 1902. He did not visit the Yukon Territory during the campaign and incurred no election expenses other than his deposit.
Ross was appointed to the Senate in 1904.
Between 1904 and 1905, Ross represented Regina, Northwest Territories and after 1905 until his death, he continued to represent Regina after the creation of the province of Saskatchewan. James Hamilton Ross died in 1932 in Victoria, British Columbia.
Ross sat in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories between 1883 and 1901, and was Speaker from 1891 to 1894 and a member of the Executive Council between 1895 and 1897. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom as well as Member of the Order of the British Empire. He became the Yukon"s first Member of Parliament defeating Yukon territorial councilor Joseph Clarke.
From 1902 until his death, Ross was a member of the Liberal Party caucus.