Alexander Ross | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 31 October 1838 Urquhart and Logie Wester, Scotland |
| Died | 6 May 1884 (aged 45) Old Calabar, West Africa (today Akwa Akpa) |
| Known for | Dispute with fellow missionary, William Anderson, and exploration of the Cross River State area in Nigeria and Rio del Rey estuary in Cameroon |
| Spouse |
Jane Innes (m. 1874) |
| Children | 2 |
Alexander Ross (31 October 1838 – 6 May 1884) was a Scottish missionary with the United Presbyterian Church (Scotland) in Duke Town, Old Calabar, West Africa along with other notable missionaries including William Anderson, Hugh Goldie, and Mary Slessor. Making two separate expeditions in 1877 and 1878, Ross was the first white man to venture south of Old Calabar to the palm-oil town of Odobo. He discovered the Falls of Komè ('Düben' falls]) on the River Meme and recorded details of the places, customs and languages of Efut. In 1881 the Mission was torn apart by a schism between Ross and Anderson that was to be a crucial link in the chain of events which led to the annexation by Britain of the territory from Calabar to the Niger.