Editing Clan Ross (section)

===18th Century===

====Jacobite rising of 1715–1719====

In 1715, during the Jacobite rising, the Clan Ross along with their allies the [[Clan Munro]], [[Clan Mackay]] and [[Clan Sutherland]] were forced into a retreat by a larger force of Jacobites in what is known as the [[Skirmish of Alness]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.23">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 23.</ref> The Jacobites were led by [[William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth]], chief of the [[Clan Mackenzie]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.23"/>

The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. The Mackenzie's [[Earl of Seaforth]] title came to an end in 1716, and it seems to have been arranged that while the Clan Ross held the county seat the Munros would represent the Tain Burghs. To secure the burghs, control of three out of the five was necessary. The Ross ascendancy was secure in [[Tain]], and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlled [[Dingwall]]. In 1719 a company of men from the Clan Ross fought for the government at the [[Battle of Glen Shiel]] where the Jacobites, including the Mackenzies were defeated.<ref>Mackenzie, Alan. (2006). ''[http://www.electricscotland.com/mackenzie/images/CHAPT.11.pdf History of the Clan Mackenzie]''. Chapter 11. pp. 156.</ref>

In 1721, a small force of men from the Clan Ross, led by chief William Ross 6th of the Pitcalnie line and his brother Robert went on a rent collecting expedition into the lands of the Mackenzies.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.24">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 24.</ref> They were defeated by a much larger force of Mackenzies at the [[Battle of Glen Affric]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.24"/><ref>Mackenzie, Alan. (2006) ''[http://www.electricscotland.com/mackenzie/images/CHAPT.10.pdf History of the Clan Mackenzie]''. Chapter 10. pp. 142–143.</ref> [[General Wade]]'s report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the combined clan strength of the Rosses and Munros at 700 men.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnston |first1=Thomas Brumby |author-link1=Thomas Brumby Johnston |last2=Robertson |first2=James Alexander |last3=Dickson |first3=William Kirk |author-link3=William Kirk Dickson |year=1899 |chapter=General Wade's Report |title=Historical Geography of the Clans of Scotland |url=https://archive.org/details/historicalgeogra00john |location=[[Edinburgh]] and [[London]] |publisher=[[W. & A.K. Johnston]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/historicalgeogra00john/page/26 26] |access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>

====War in France====
[[File:Balnagown Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1102747.jpg|thumb|right|275px|[[Balnagown Castle]] once seat of the chiefs of Clan Ross. It is now owned by [[Mohammed Al-Fayed]].]] 
[[File:Arms of Ross-of-Bladensburg.png|thumb|right|200px|Ross of Bladensburg coat of arms]]
Col. Charles, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 15th of Balnagowan, was killed in 1745 leading some members of the clan at the [[Battle of Fontenoy]] fighting against the French on 30 April 1745. Balnagowan passed to George, 13th Lord Ross, in 1745. William, 14th Lord Ross, died unmarried, and Balnagowan then passed to Sir James Lockhard, 2nd Baronet of Carstairs.

====Jacobite rising of 1745–1746====

During the [[Jacobite rising of 1745]], in the County of Ross, although from the Pitcalnie line, the nominal 18th Chief of Clan Ross was Alexander Ross of Pitcalnie. He was a staunch Protestant, somewhat more tolerant of Jacobites than his father but definitely pro-[[House of Hanover|Hanoverian]]. In addition, Alexander's uncle, Duncan [[Clan Forbes|Forbes]] of Culloden, was Lord President of the Court of Session for King [[George II of Great Britain]]'s government in London. Duncan Forbes and Alexander Ross the Pitcalnie chief raised an [[Independent Highland Companies|Independent Highland Company]] to garrison [[Inverness Castle]] against the Jacobites.<ref>Simpson. (1996). pp. 132.</ref>

The McFarquhars of [[Redcastle]] brought a strong Jacobite contingent from the [[Black Isle]] to join the forces of the [[Earl of Cromarty]] and a rebel, John Ross joined them. Forays were made before the Battle of Culloden and on the day before the battle, 15 April 1746, about 200 of the McFarquhar's Jacobite force were ambushed by pro-government Scots at the [[Battle of Littleferry]] near [[Golspie]]. At most, one-tenth survived; John Ross escaped to Sutherland but was first to be put on a list of rebels. However, apart from him the Clan Ross supported the government.

The chiefship of Clan Ross devolved upon Ross of Pitcalnie, heir of David who was the last of the direct line of Balnagowan. Sir John, the 5th baronet, assumed the name "Ross" and then, after Carstairs was sold in 1762, the designation "of Balnagowan."

The Balnagowan estate itself is no longer in Ross hands.  Its recent owner, Egyptian millionaire [[Mohammed Fayed]] (d. 2023), former owner of the [[Harrods]] department store, put a lot of money into improving the estate and restoring the castle.  The current Chief lives in [[Perthshire]]. His son, Hugh, and grandson, Calum, are both interested and involved in the Gaelic scene across Scotland.