James Ross migrated to Van Diemen's Land in the early 1820s. He was granted land on the River Shannon and, in 1825, became the tutor to Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur's children. In the same year, Ross was appointed joint government printer with George Terry Howe (q.v.) and joint editor of the Hobart Town Gazette. The partnership was dissolved two years later and Ross became the sole editor of the official newspaper. In subsequent years, he undertook other publishing ventures including the Hobart Town Almanack, the Hobart Town Chronicle and the Van Diemen's Land Monthly Magazine.
Ross retired from his government-supported position in 1836 and moved to his property at Carrington. As well as his editorial writing, Ross also published essays and articles. According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, some of Ross's articles in the Hobart Town Almanack 'were used by Marcus Clarke in For the Term of His Natural Life'.
Source: 'Ross, James (1786-1838)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
Sighted: 27/07/2011
