Ross, Robert B., 1869-1952

Robert B. Ross was born in Adelaide, Australia, in 1867. In 1870 Ross's family sailed on the Benjamin Amer to San Francisco, and later that year to Port Madison on Bainbridge Island, Wash., aboard the barkentine William H. Gawley. Ross began his maritime career in his teens, steamboating on Puget Sound in the summer 1883 and working as a machinist in various Puget Sound ports in 1884. In 1891, Ross began working for the Puget Sound Tug Boat Company, serving as assistant or chief engineer on nearly all 14 deep-sea tugs comprising the company fleet. In 1898, Ross conveyed the fleet of 12 Moran Brothers river steamboats from Seattle to St. Michael, Alaska, during the Klondike gold rush. In 1903, he was chief engineer of the tugboat Tyee when it towed the disabled freight steamship Meteor from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to Seattle. In 1917, Ross left the towing fleets and worked installing machinery for the U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, working on ships including the motorship Alabama and the steamships Mahaska, Nasika, Yakima, Bosworth, Delight, and Gaffeny. Around 1920, he worked aboard the steamship West Jessup as chief engineer, and later serving on the steamship Higho, on which he sailed from Seattle to Taku Bar, China, during a stormy voyage in which the ship sustained some damage. During his stay, Ross visited the Great Wall and various ports in China and Japan. While working aboard the Higho, Ross also visited ports along the east coast of South America and along the Mediterranean, in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and northern Africa. Other ships on which Ross served as chief engineer include the tug Sea Monarch, the tug A.O. Hermanson, the steamships Norwood and Mahukona, as well as ferries of the Puget Sound Navigation Company. In 1930, Ross went to New York, where he became chief engineer of the steamship Eastern Coast, renamed the Diamond Cement. The vessel came west and operated out of Seattle until 1933, when it returned to the Atlantic coast. Ross left the ship in Boston and returned to Seattle, but came on again as chief engineer when the Diamond Cement, of the Pacific Coast Coal Company, returned to Seattle in 1935. He served continuously in this position until his retirement in 1942. Robert Ross died in Port Madison in Dec. 1952.

From the description of Robert B. Ross collection of maritime photographs and other material, ca. 1895-1961 (bulk 1910-1942). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 247409947

Robert B. Ross was born in Adelaide, Australia in 1867. In 1870 Ross's family sailed on the Benjamin Amer to San Francisco, and later that year to Port Madison on Bainbridge Island, Washington aboard the barkentine William H. Gawley . Ross began his maritime career in his teens, steamboating on Puget Sound in the summer 1883 and working as a machinist in various Puget Sound ports in 1884.

In 1891, Ross began working for the Puget Sound Tug Boat Company, serving as assistant or chief engineer on nearly all 14 deep-sea tugs comprising the company fleet. In 1898, Ross conveyed the fleet of 12 Moran Brothers river steamboats from Seattle to St. Michael, Alaska during the Klondike gold rush. In 1903, he was chief engineer of the tugboat Tyee when it towed the disabled freight steamship Meteor from Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Seattle.

In 1917, Ross left the towing fleets and worked installing machinery for the U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, working on ships including the motorship Alabama and the steamships Mahaska, Nasika, Yakima, Bosworth, Delight and Gaffeny . Around 1920, he worked aboard the steamship West Jessup as chief engineer, and later serving on the steamship Higho, on which he sailed from Seattle to Taku Bar, China, during a stormy voyage in which the ship sustained some damage. During his stay, Ross visited the Great Wall and various ports in China and Japan. While working aboard the Higho, Ross also visited ports along the east coast of South America and along the Mediterranean, in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Northern Africa.

Other ships on which Ross served as chief engineer include the tug Sea Monarch, the tug A.O. Hermanson, the steamships Norwood and Mahukona, as well as ferries of the Puget Sound Navigation Company.

In 1930, Ross went to New York, where he became chief engineer of the steamship Eastern Coast, renamed the Diamond Cement . The vessel came west and operated out of Seattle until 1933, when it returned to the Atlantic coast. Ross left the ship in Boston and returned to Seattle, but came on again as chief engineer when the Diamond Cement, of the Pacific Coast Coal Company, returned to Seattle in 1935. He served continuously in this position until his retirement in 1942.

Robert Ross died in Port Madison in December 1952.

From the guide to the Robert B. Ross Collection of Maritime Photographs and Other Material, circa 1895-1961, 1910-1942, (Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library)