Alexander McKenzie Ross

Alexander McKenzie Ross (25 December 1805 – 8 August 1862 ) was a British builder and engineer.

Career In 1823, aged 18, he moved to London where his uncle, Hugh Ross, was working with Hugh McIntosh, a civil engineer and contractor for public works. He remained with McIntosh until 1836. He then joined with Robert Stephenson and worked on numerous challenging projects in the UK, together with Francis Thompson. He was appointed manager for a section of the North Midland Railway in Derbyshire. In 1842 he then worked with Stephenson as resident engineer on the Chester and Holyhead Railway and on completion of this work he became one of the two chief assistants to Stephenson, the other being Frank Foster. He was then involved in the construction of the Conwy Railway Bridge across the River Conwy and the Britannia Bridge across the Menai Straits. and together with Robert Stephenson he designed the famous Victoria Bridge at Montreal, Quebec, the first bridge to span the St. Lawrence River. The bridge, opened in 1859, remains in use to this day, carrying both road and rail traffic.

Life

He was born in Ulladale, Logie-Easter, Ross & Cromarty in Scotland, the 4th child of John Ross (1765-1812) farmer and wheelwright, and Barbara Boog (1773-1849). Aged 6 his father died, so his mother moved to Dornoch and he was educated at the local public school under John Davidson, a scholar of some note.

He married Isabella Kerr (1825-1854) around 1854 in Montreal, Canada, and they had the following children: Elizabeth Charlotte McKenzie Ross (1855-1935) Robina Augusta Stephenson Ross (b. 1857-1952) Clemintina Louisa Ross (1858-1934) John Ross (b.1860)

Ross died in Chiswick and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.