CHIEF JOHN ROSS

Reference: Chief John Ross Chapter Yearbook 2003-2004

Named in honor of his grandfather, John McDonald, John Ross was born October 3, 1790. He was the third child of Daniel and Mary (Mollie) McDonald Ross. John Ross was educated by John Barbour Davis in a private school established by Daniel Ross. After completing the course of study at the private school, John and his brother, Lewis, completed curriculums at the Presbyterian School in Maryville, TN, and then at school in Kingston, TN.

After completing his education, John Ross, with his partner, Timothy Meigs, son of Return Jonathan Meigs, opened a store on the Tennessee River at the site that would become Ross's Landing. In 1809, at the age of 19, John Ross was sent by Col. Return Jonathan Meigs, United States Agent to the Cherokees, on a mission to the Western Cherokees in Arkansas, thus beginning his almost constant service to his Cherokee people.

In the fall of 1812, John Ross, acting under the command of Col. Gideon Morgan, served as adjutant of the Cherokee Regiment in General Andrew Jackson's Army against the Creek Indians. In 1817, John Ross was elected senator to the National Council of the Cherokee Nation, and from October 1818 until 1826, he served as President of the Cherokee Senate. In 1827, John Ross was Assistant Chief and President of the Convention that adopted the Constitution for the Cherokee Nation. This constitution was the first ever put into effect by any North American Indians. In 1828, John Ross was elected the Principal Chief of the Eastern Cherokee Nation and served in that position until being elected Principal Chief of the United Cherokee Nation in 1839. From 1839 until his death, John Ross was Chief of the United States Cherokee Nation, not merely a commander of an Indian Tribe, but executive head of a civilized nation with which the United States concluded several treaties. John Ross was in Washington, D.C., on business for the Cherokee Nation at the time