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Alexander Ross was a Canadian ornithologist, medical doctor and naturalist...and so much more. As a young man in Belleville, in the years before the American Civil War, Alexander was introduced in his parents’ home to slaves who had made their way to freedom through the underground railroad. From that moment on, he dedicated his life to helping slaves escape north to freedom. He travelled to the American south using his interest in local bird populations and his reputation as a naturalist to gain access to the plantation slaves. Once he was in touch with them, he passed along information about the escape routes and the safe houses. Several times his activities brought him to the attention of American authorities.