William Ross

March 20, 1844 (age 62)

Kirkbean, Kirkcudbrightshire

He was a noted secularist thinker, and used the pseudonym "Saladin". At the age of 20, he began studying at Glasgow University, with the intention of entering the Church. However, he became more interested in literature, particularly the works of Robert Burns and Thomas Carlyle, and moved to London where he managed the Thomas Laurie bookshop. In London in 1872, Ross established his own publishing company, West. Stewart & Company, and for some years primarily issued educational works and magazines. In 1882 he served as co-editor with the elder Watts on the Secular Review, and two years later Ross became its sole editor and proprietor, penning many essays on secularism using the pseudonym "Saladin". The last issue was published in June 1907, a few months after Ross"s death. Ross wrote a number of books, including The Flagellants (1884), God and his Book (1887), Roses and Rue (1891), and Woman: Her Glory and Her Shame (in two volumes, 1894). He also penned several volumes of poetry, winning a gold medal for the best poem memorializing Robert Burns at the unveiling of a statue in 1879, and another for a poem describing a visit to the graveside of the revered Scottish poet. One of his poems, Caractacus the Briton, published in 1881, is noted for its refrain, "Caractacus the Briton, the bravest of the brave!". In later years he was confined to bed with sclerosis, but continued to write and edit He died in London at the age of 62 and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey.

William Ross

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Background

He was born in Kirkbean, Kirkcudbrightshire, into a Presbyterian family.

Career

He was a noted secularist thinker, and used the pseudonym "Saladin". At the age of 20, he began studying at Glasgow University, with the intention of entering the Church. However, he became more interested in literature, particularly the works of Robert Burns and Thomas Carlyle, and moved to London where he managed the Thomas Laurie bookshop.

In London in 1872, Ross established his own publishing company, West. Stewart & Company, and for some years primarily issued educational works and magazines.

In 1882 he served as co-editor with the elder Watts on the Secular Review, and two years later Ross became its sole editor and proprietor, penning many essays on secularism using the pseudonym "Saladin". The last issue was published in June 1907, a few months after Ross"s death.

Ross wrote a number of books, including The Flagellants (1884), God and his Book (1887), Roses and Rue (1891), and Woman: Her Glory and Her Shame (in two volumes, 1894). He also penned several volumes of poetry, winning a gold medal for the best poem memorializing Robert Burns at the unveiling of a statue in 1879, and another for a poem describing a visit to the graveside of the revered Scottish poet.

One of his poems, Caractacus the Briton, published in 1881, is noted for its refrain, "Caractacus the Briton, the bravest of the brave!".

In later years he was confined to bed with sclerosis, but continued to write and edit He died in London at the age of 62 and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey.

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