RUTHVEN, WILLIAM ROBERTSON [SSNE 4177]

Surname
RUTHVEN, RODIN, RODVIN, RUTHWEN, REDWEN
First name
WILLIAM ROBERTSON, VILHELM
Title/rank
ADMIRAL
Nationality
SCOT
Region
Social status
OFFICER
Education
Religion

Text source

William Ruthven was a master of horse in King Sigismund's service at Åbo castle in 1599. He is noted as of Norgarn in Uppland in the sources. In 1600 he was master of cavalry of a group of Scottish soldiers who had joined Swedish service. This is probably the same as Colonel William Ruthwen who in 1608 was appointed colonel of a troop of recruits that he was to bring to Sweden. By 20/10/1609 he had switched his career and is listed as the Swedish master shipbuilder at Nyköping and Ulvesund's shipyards. 1609-10 Ruthven had been promoted to the rank of admiral. He was temporarily at Duke Gustaf's Ulfvesund shipyard in 1610 and during 1612-13 he was admiral of the wharf for Ridö. He received some villages in Vasaborg's area for life as payment for his services, along with seven homesteads in Tillinge, Uppland, which were free of taxes. He appears to have died in 1614 as that year his wife requests the use of his property. Probably the same man as [SSNE 1721].

Biografiska Anteckningar om Officerare vid Örlogsflottan 1600-1699,p.338; Strödda militiehandlingar före 1631, Armen; A. Zettersten, Svenska Flottans Historia Åren 1522-1634 (Stockholm, 1890), pp.255-256; Swedish Riksarkiv, Riksarkivets Ämbetsarkiv, Huvudarkivet FV a:31-32 Ang. Skottar I svensk tjänst, notes compiled by Hammerskjöld.

Service record

SWEDEN, SWEDISH ARMY
Arrived 1599-01-01, as CAPT OF HORSE
Departed 1608-12-31, as CAPT OF HORSE
Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
SWEDEN, NAVY
Arrived 1609-10-20, as MASTER SHIPBUIL
Departed 1614-12-31, as ADMIRAL
Capacity OFFICER, purpose NAVAL