He was elected Lord Rector of Glasgow University in 1727 and 1728 and was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in June 1739.
He was appointed a Commissioner of Customs and Salt on 13 February 1744, 29 October 1746 and 20 July 1751.
[1] On the death of his son Charles in 1745, he succeeded to the estate of Balnagown.
He himself died at Ross House, Edinburgh, on 17 June 1754.
[1] Ross married in about 1711 Elizabeth, the third daughter of William Kerr, 2nd Marquess of Lothian.