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Lord Ruthven of Freeland facts for kids

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"Lord Ruthven of Freeland" is a special title in Scotland. It's part of the "Peerage of Scotland," which means it's a very old and important noble rank. This title was first given out in 1651 to a man named Thomas Ruthven. He was related to an older noble family, the Earls of Gowrie.

The official document that created this title was sadly burned in a fire in 1750. Because of this, it's not perfectly clear how the title was supposed to be passed down. However, it was decided that the title could be passed to any of Thomas Ruthven's descendants, even through female family members.

What is the Lord Ruthven of Freeland Title?

The title "Lord Ruthven of Freeland" is a noble rank in Scotland. It means the person holding it is a "Lord" or "Lady." This title has been passed down through generations of the Ruthven family.

How the Title Began

The first person to be called Lord Ruthven of Freeland was Thomas Ruthven. He received this title in 1651. When he passed away in 1673, his son, David Ruthven, became the second Lord.

David Ruthven never married or had children. When he died in 1701, the title and family lands went to his youngest sister, Jean. She became the third Lady Ruthven of Freeland.

Passing Down the Title

After Jean, the family lands went to her nephew, Sir William Cunningham. He was the son of Jean's older sister, Anne. Sir William took the Ruthven family name. However, he passed away only six months later and never officially used the title.

The title then went to his cousin, Isabella Ruthven. She became the fourth Lady Ruthven. Isabella married James Johnston. They both changed their last name to Ruthven. Isabella was officially recognized as the Lady Ruthven of Freeland. She even attended the coronation of King George II.

The title continued to pass down through the family. The seventh Lord Ruthven, James Ruthven, died without children. So, his younger sister, Mary Elizabeth, became the eighth Lady. She and her husband, Walter Hore, also added Ruthven to their last name.

Important People in the Family

One very interesting person was the ninth Lord, Walter James Hore-Ruthven. He was a soldier in the Rifle Brigade. He fought in the Crimean War when he was young. He also fought in the First World War, even though he was in his seventies! In 1919, he received another special title: "Baron Ruthven of Gowrie." This new title was part of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It meant he automatically had a seat in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament.

His second son, Alexander Hore-Ruthven, became a very important person. He served as the Governor-General of Australia. This is a high-ranking job, representing the King or Queen in Australia. In 1945, he was given the title Earl of Gowrie.

The tenth Lord Ruthven of Freeland was Walter Patrick Hore-Ruthven. He was a Major-General in the Scots Guards, a famous army regiment. He did not have any sons. Because of this, his title of Baron Ruthven of Gowrie went to his great-nephew, Grey Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie.

However, the older title of Lord Ruthven of Freeland could be passed down through female family members. So, it went to his eldest daughter, Bridget. She became the eleventh Lady Ruthven of Freeland. In 1967, a special court in Scotland confirmed her right to the title.

When Bridget passed away in 1982, her son from her first marriage became the twelfth Lord. He was also the twelfth Earl of Carlisle. For more information about this title, you can look up the Earl of Carlisle.

Lords Ruthven of Freeland (1651)

Monument to James, Lord Ruthven 1777-1853, Pencaitland
Monument to James, Lord Ruthven 1777-1853, Pencaitland

Some history books suggest that when the 2nd Lord Ruthven died without marrying, the title might have ended. However, the title was still used by his family members who inherited his lands, and later by his closest living relatives. The people listed below were recognized as holding the title.

The person expected to inherit the title next is the current Earl's younger brother, The Hon Philip Charles Wentworth Howard (born 1963).

See also

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