Brigadier-General William Henry Ross was born in Glasgow in March 1835 and completed his education at Glasgow University. Nominated for a Cadetship in the Bombay Infantry in early 1852, he was appointed to the 23rd Bombay Light Infantry and advanced to Lieutenant in December 1854. Subsequently attached to the Persian Expeditionary Force, he was present at the bombardment of Mohmra. Admitted to the Bombay Staff Corps in February 1861, Ross held a number of appointments in Poona and with the 26th and 27th Native Infantry Regiments, ultimately rising to be Commandant of the former in February 1883 with the rank of Colonel. Latterly the Officiating General Officer Commanding Nagpore District, with the rank of Local Brigadier-General, he retired in the early 1890s and died in March 1923.