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

Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven

Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven , played an important part in the political intrigues of the 16th century. He succeeded to the lordship in December 1552...

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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

David Rizzio

Davide Rizzio, sometimes written as Davide Riccio or Davide Rizzo , was an Italian courtier, born close to Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts de San Paolo et Solbrito, who rose to become the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots...

. In 1582 he devised the plot to seize James VI of Scotland, known as the Raid of Ruthven

Raid of Ruthven

The Raid of Ruthven was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted King James VI of Scotland. He was seized while staying at the castle of Ruthven , and kept under...

, when the king visited his home at Huntingtower Castle

Huntingtower Castle

Huntingtower Castle once known as Ruthven Castle or the Place [Palace] of Ruthven is located near the village of Huntingtower beside the A85 and near the A9, about 5km NW of the centre of Perth, Perth and Kinross, in central Scotland, on the main road to Crieff.- History :Huntingtower Castle was...

. He was the last-known custodian of the famous silver casket containing the letters

Casket letters

Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...

 alleged to have been written by Mary, Queen of Scots, to her third husband James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell

James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell

James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney , better known by his inherited title as 4th Earl of Bothwell, was hereditary Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He is best known for his association with and subsequent marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third husband...

. In 1581 he was created Earl of Gowrie

Earl of Gowrie

Earl of Gowrie is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ruthven family. It takes its name from Gowrie, a historical region and ancient province of Scotland. On 23 August 1581 William Ruthven,...

, 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

James Stewart, Earl of Arran

Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran...

, was given all the lands south of the Forth, including Dirleton Castle

Dirleton Castle

Dirleton Castle is a medieval fortress in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland. It lies around west of North Berwick, and around east of Edinburgh...

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A letter produced in the posthumous trial of Robert Logan of Restalrig

Robert Logan of Restalrig

Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig was a Scottish knight involved in the Gowrie House affair of 1600.The Logan family lived at Lochend Castle near Restalrig, and others of the name had been Provost of Leith...

 in 1609 referred to William as Greysteil

Greysteil

Greysteil was a medieval poem popular in 16th century Scotland, set to music and performed for James IV of Scotland and James V of Scotland. The poem was also called Syr Egeir and Syr Gryme, Eger and Grime, the names of the two knights who fight Greysteil and whose contrasted virtues are the poem's...

, 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

Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven

Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven was Master of the Scottish Artillery and third husband of Margaret Tudor, eldest daughter of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York.-Ancient lineage:...

 and his second wife Janet Stewart. Her maternal grandparents were John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl

John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl

John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl was the second Earl of Atholl. He fought in the Battle of Flodden Field on 9 September 1513.-Biography:He was born after 1475 to John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl and Eleanor Sinclair. He married Lady Janet Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll...

 and Lady Janet Campbell. Janet Campbell was a daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll

Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll

Gillespie Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician.-Biography:Archibald was the eldest son of Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll and Isabel Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Lord Lorn. He was made Master of the Royal Household of James IV of Scotland on 24...

 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
  James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
  James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
  
  .
• Mary Ruthven who married first John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl of the Eighth Creation, secondly John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl
  John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl
  John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl , also known as Sir John Stewart of Balveny, was a Scottish nobleman and ambassador to England .-Life:...
  
   of the Ninth Creation and thirdly James Stewart.
• Sophia Ruthven who married Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox
  Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox
  Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and 1st Duke of Richmond was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was the son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox and his wife Catherine de Balsac. Stewart was involved in the Plantation of Ulster in Ireland and the colonization of Maine in New England...
  
  .
• 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
  John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie
  John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie was a Scottish nobleman, the second son of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie and his wife Dorothea Stewart...
  
  
• 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.

External links