Charles Campbell Ross
Charles Campbell Ross | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1849 |
| Died | 1920-07-09 Whitechapel |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, politician, museum curator |
| Years active | 1870s–1890s |
| Known for | Mayor of Penzance; MP for St Ives (1881–1885) |
Charles Campbell Ross (1849 – 9 July 1920, Whitechapel) was a notable British banker and politician associated with Penzance, Cornwall. He held the mayoralty of Penzance on five occasions and represented the St Ives constituency in Parliament from 1881 until 1885.
Personal life
Charles was the grandson of the banker Joseph Carne, through his mother Mary, who married Dr Archibald Campbell Colquhoun Ross. He received his education at Brighton College. The family estate he inherited in Penzance now serves as the site for the Morrab Library and Morrab Gardens. In 1870, he wed his cousin Isabella Emily Carne (née Holland), who passed away in 1888. Their children included a daughter and a son, Archibald Campbell Carne Ross, who became the father of linguist Alan S C Ross.
Career
During the 1880s, Ross played a significant role on the Penzance Borough Council, holding the office of mayor in 1877, 1878, 1879, 1881, and 1883.[1] Simultaneously, he served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for St Ives from 1881 to 1885. In the highly competitive 1885 General Election, he was defeated by Liberal candidate Sir John St Aubyn.[2] Additionally, Ross fulfilled duties as both borough and county magistrate and acted as Honorary Secretary of the West Cornwall Infirmary.[3]
Ross was a principal partner in Penzance Bank (Batten, Carne and Carne), which operated branches in Penzance and Devonport. This position was inherited from his grandfather Joseph Carne FRS. The bank discontinued operations in 1896 and was formally dissolved by 1897.[4] Following this, Ross moved to London where he took up work as a museum curator in the eastern part of the city.[1]
In recognition of his contributions, the Ross Bridge in Penzance bears his name.[1]