Ross, Robert (c. 1770-1814) British Officer: Robert Ross was born around 1770; in Ross Trevor, Devonshire, in England. After graduating from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland; he became an officer in the 20th foot, serving in Holland, Egypt and the Peninsula. The Duke of Wellington chose him to command the corps that was to be sent to the United States in 1814. Ross arrived in Chesapeake bay with 3,500 men from Wellington's army, and was reinforced by 1,000 marines from Sir George Cockburn's blockading squadron. The whole force landed at Benedict, on the Patuxent, near Washington, D.C. Ross advanced and joined with Cockburn's forces to march to Bladensburg. There, the British defeated the Americans. On August 24, 1814, the victors burned and sacked Washington. Ross was killed in North Point, Maryland, on September 12, 1814, while leading the British advance toward Baltimore, Maryland. His death contributed to the American victory at Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."
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