Philip Dansken Ross

Who was Philip Dansken Ross?

Philip Dansken Ross was a Canadian journalist, newspaper publisher, sportsman and ice hockey pioneer builder.

He was born in Montreal, the son of Christina Chalmers Dansken and Montreal accountant Philip Simpson Ross who was the founder of the Order of Chartered Accountants of Quebec and a member of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

Philip Dansken Ross studied at McGill University and Queen's University. At McGill, Ross studied engineering and played for the football and rowing clubs. Ross captained the McGill football club to victory against Harvard University in the first Canada-U.S. international football game in 1878. He was provincial single sculling champion twice. He also played lacrosse and founded several golf clubs.

Upon graduation, Ross worked for the Montreal Harbour Commission. He left the Commission and joined the staff at the Montreal Star in 1880. He joined the Toronto Daily Mail as a journalist. He returned to Montreal and joined the Montreal Star in 1885, eventually becoming its managing editor.

In 1886, Ross became co-owner of the near-bankrupt Ottawa Evening Journal newspaper. In 1891 he bought out his partner and made it into a highly successful and respected paper. He served as its president for 60 years during which time he helped found the Canadian Press newspaper association.