William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie

William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie (c. 1541 – 1584), known as The Lord Ruthven between 1566 and 1581, was a son of Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven.

Life account

Like his father, William was prominent in the political intrigues of the period and was also concerned in the murder of David Rizzio. In 1582 he devised the plot to seize James VI of Scotland, known as the Raid of Ruthven, when the king visited his home at Huntingtower Castle. He was the last-known custodian of the famous silver casket containing the letters alleged to have been written by Mary, Queen of Scots, to her third husband James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. In 1581 he was created Earl of Gowrie, but all his honours were forfeited when he was attainted and executed in May, 1584. His lands were given to king's current favourites; James Stewart, Earl of Arran, was given all the lands south of the Forth, including Dirleton Castle. A letter produced in the posthumous trial of Robert Logan of Restalrig in 1609 referred to William as Greysteil, a character in an epic poem noted for his strength and sinister powers.

Marriage and children

William Ruthven married Dorothea Stewart. She was a daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and his second wife Janet Stewart. Her maternal grandparents were John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl and Lady Janet Campbell. Janet Campbell was a daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stewart.

William and Dorothea were parents of ten daughters and four sons:

• Jean Ruthven who married James Ogilvy, 6th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie. They were the parents of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie.
• Margaret Ruthven who married John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose. They were the parents of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.
• Mary Ruthven who married first John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl of the Eighth Creation, secondly John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl of the Ninth Creation and thirdly James Stewart.
• Sophia Ruthven who married Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox.
• Lilian Ruthven who married
• Dorothea Ruthven who married
• Elizabeth Ruthven who married
• Beatrix Ruthven who married
• Barbara Ruthven who married
• Isabel Ruthven who married Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar
• James Ruthven, 2rd Earl of Gowrie
• John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie
• Patrick Ruthven
• Alexander Ruthven
• William Ruthven, born in 1582

William Ruffin (ca.1617-1674) could be linked to William Ruthven(14). William Ruthven(14) fled to Europe to escape from King James I (James VI of Scotland). William Ruffin of Virginia, having been born no sooner than 1603, could not be the son of Earl of Gowrie; however, he could be a grandson or great grandson.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links

•  "Ruthven, William (1541?-1584)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

Peerage of Scotland
New creation	Earl of Gowrie 1581–1584	Succeeded by James Ruthven
Preceded by Patrick Ruthven	Lord Ruthven 1566–1584