Dr. Richard Ross

Biography

Richard Ross holds a joint appointment at the College of Law and the History Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he serves as the co-director of the Illinois Program in Legal History. Since arriving at Illinois in 2004, he has been responsible for developing courses on trusts and estates, property, American legal history, and legal cultures in early America. His research focuses on several themes, including the development of early American law in a comparative context, which is the subject of his book manuscript "Making the English Legal World: Anglicization of Law in America, Ireland, and India, 1540–1800". Ross is also the editor of volumes that examine the intersections of legal systems in various cultural contexts, including the influence of indigenous and settler legal principles. His work in political and intellectual history delves into the intricacies of legal communications during colonial governance, while also exploring the intertwined influence of law, religion, and governance. Ross earned his BA, JD, and PhD from Yale University and has received various research fellowships throughout his career. He has been a visiting scholar at prestigious institutions and has played a significant role in organizing symposiums focused on comparative legal history.

Research Interests

Courses