Frank Mackenzie Ross

Frank Mackenzie Ross, born on April 19, 1891, was a prominent entrepreneur and politician who served as the 19th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. He was the son of Grace Archibald (McCrone) and David Ross, and his career began as a bank clerk in Montreal in 1910. With the onset of World War I, Ross joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, serving valiantly with the 8th Battalion. By the end of the war, he had achieved the rank of captain and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.

After returning from the war, Ross transitioned into the shipbuilding industry in Saint John, New Brunswick, which marked the beginning of his successful careers in both industry and finance. His personal life saw significant milestones as well; on July 3, 1923, he married Gertrude Edith Tomalin, a celebrated reciter and entertainer. Tragically, she passed away in a hospital in Saint John on January 22, 1940, at the age of fifty-eight.

During World War II, Ross played a crucial role in Ottawa, assisting in the procurement of supplies for the British Admiralty, a service that earned him the honor of being named a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (C.M.G.). In 1945, he married Phyllis Turner, whose son, John Turner, would later become Prime Minister of Canada.

Ross's appointment as Lieutenant Governor came on October 3, 1955. His tenure was marked by a significant event when a fire destroyed Government House. In the aftermath, he and Phyllis traveled to the United Kingdom to acquire suitable furnishings for the new Government House, ultimately donating one hundred fourteen pieces of furniture to the establishment. The new Government House was completed in May 1959, just a year before Ross retired from his esteemed office.