David R. Ross
A Scottish writer who brought history to life by walking the ancient routes of kings and warriors, making the past a tangible adventure.
1958–2010 (age 52)·Scottish author and historian·Birthday: February 28·Baby Boomers
Biography
David R. Ross was a man who refused to let Scotland's history gather dust on a library shelf. Born in 1958, he forged a unique path as an author by physically tracing the journeys of historical figures, most famously Robert the Bruce. His books, like 'On the Trail of Robert the Bruce', blended meticulous research with the immediacy of travelogue, recounting the muddy boots and unexpected encounters of following old roads and battle sites. This approach resonated deeply, offering readers a visceral connection to stories of rebellion and independence. A passionate advocate for Scottish heritage, Ross was also the longtime Convener of the Society of William Wallace. His untimely death in 2010 cut short a career dedicated to making history feel less like a subject and more like a homeland.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
David was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Died at 52
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Authored eight popular books that fused historical narrative with personal travel writing.
- Served as the Convener of the Society of William Wallace, promoting public engagement with Scottish history.
- Pioneered a 'boots-on-the-ground' approach to historical research, retracing ancient routes like those of Robert the Bruce.
Did You Know?
He was a trained piper and often played at historical commemorations.
Ross was a founding member of the 'Guardian of Scotland Trust'.
His book 'On the Trail of Robert the Bruce' was a bestseller in Scotland.
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