John Ross Dix

John Dix, later known as John Ross Dix, (21 September 1811 – 8 November 1865) was a British surgeon, writer and poet active in Great Britain and America.

Early life and family Dix was born John Dix on 21 September 1811 in Redcliffe, Bristol to John Dix, a lead merchant, and Elizabeth Dix , whom Dix claimed was taught by Mary Newton the sister of Thomas Chatterton.

Career Dix began writing poetry for the Bristol Mirror, which was later published in the 1829 anthology Lays of Home.

Dix served time in Cardiff Gaol for debt despite applying to the Royal Literary Fund. His claims of employment around this time included editor of the Monmouth Beacon, esquire, bodyguard and traveller. Based on this book, he had a theological dispute with Edward Eddis, member of the Catholic Apostolic Church. In 1864 he published at least a dozen ballads that supported the Unionist cause in the Civil War.

On 8 November 1865, Dix died in Brooklyn, New York City aged 54.