Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Forth

Earl of Forth and Brentford
Patrick Ruthven c. 1623
Lord General of the Royalist Army
In office
1642–1644
Governor of Edinburgh Castle
In office
1638–1639
Governor of Ulm
In office
1632–1632
Governor of Memel
In office
1630–1631
Military Commandant of Malbork
In office
1626–1629
Personal details
Bornc. 1573
Ballindean, Perthshire
Died2 February 1651(1651-02-02) (aged 77)
Buxtehude, Germany
Spouse(s)(1) Unknown
(2) Jean Henderson
(3) Clara (1633-his death)
Children(2) Alexander (d. before 1649), Elspeth, Jean, and Christiana
(3) Patrick (1648-1650), plus two others, also died young
Parent(s)William Ruthven and Katherine Stewart
OccupationProfessional soldier and diplomat
Military service
Battles/wars

Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Forth and Earl of Brentford (c.1573 – 2 February 1651) was a professional soldier and diplomat from Perthshire in Scotland. He spent nearly 30 years in the Swedish army, reaching the rank of lieutenant general before returning home in 1637. During the War of the Three Kingdoms, he served as Lord General of the Royalist Army from 1642 to 1644, and later accompanied the future Charles II of England into exile.

He is thought to have died outside Buxtehude, Germany, in February 1651, and was buried nearby.