William Ross was born March 27, 1823 and enlisted in the Black Watch in 1839. In 1854 he was appointed piper to Queen Victoria and operated a bagpipe making business while living in London. In 1880 he went into partnership with Henry Starck.
Kenneth MacLeay - 1802 - 1878 - Queen Victoria commissioned MacLeay to paint portraits of her favorite servants in 1865. The project took four years and is considered MacLeay's best work. This portrait is of William Ross, Piper to Queen Victoria, at Windsor Castle in 1866.
The painting shows Ross with a magnificent bagpipe in full silver and with fully silvered stocks, what can only be described as unique and extravagant.
Could this be the bagpipe made for Queen Victora by Duncan MacDougall? According to J. Campbell (p. 8 of her outstanding book Highland Bagpipe Makers) Duncan's prices "ranged from 50 shillings to £50 according to the value of the mountings."
She went on to say that "the set made for the Queen cost £60 as there was a lot of silver on them." The reader may draw his or her own conclusion however it seems probable that the set referred to is none other than the set Ross is seen holding here. Who else in the Queen's court was worthy of such a set?
Some time ago Jim McGillivray, Andreas Hartmann-Virnich, and I happened upon the photograph (CDV) to the right. You can imagine our absolute joy! MacLeay was also a photographer and his photo of William Ross is immediately below his painting. As in the Victorian style, MacLeay took artistic freedom in creating the background for his painting. Otherwise the detail in the picture and in the painting is identical. An amazing historical treasure.
The painting shows Ross with a magnificent bagpipe in full silver and with fully silvered stocks, what can only be described as unique and extravagant.
Could this be the bagpipe made for Queen Victora by Duncan MacDougall? According to J. Campbell (p. 8 of her outstanding book Highland Bagpipe Makers) Duncan's prices "ranged from 50 shillings to £50 according to the value of the mountings."
She went on to say that "the set made for the Queen cost £60 as there was a lot of silver on them." The reader may draw his or her own conclusion however it seems probable that the set referred to is none other than the set Ross is seen holding here. Who else in the Queen's court was worthy of such a set?
Some time ago Jim McGillivray, Andreas Hartmann-Virnich, and I happened upon the photograph (CDV) to the right. You can imagine our absolute joy! MacLeay was also a photographer and his photo of William Ross is immediately below his painting. As in the Victorian style, MacLeay took artistic freedom in creating the background for his painting. Otherwise the detail in the picture and in the painting is identical. An amazing historical treasure.
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Kenneth MacLeay 1802-1878
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The bagpipes below are stamped "W. Ross" and there seems little doubt that they were made by Henry Starck.
William Ross