Major General Walter Patrick Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland, 2nd Baron Ruthven of Gowrie, CB, CMG, DSO (6 June 1870 – 16 April 1956), known as Master of Ruthven from 1870 to 1921, was a senior British Army officer. He served as Major-General commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding London District from 1924 to 1928, and was then Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey until 1934.

Quick Facts The Lord Ruthven of Freeland and of Gowrie, Born ...

The Lord Ruthven of Freeland and of Gowrie
Born	(1870-06-06)6 June 1870
Died	16 April 1956(1956-04-16) (aged 85)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1887–1934
Rank	Major General
Commands held	London District (1924–28) Bangalore Brigade (1920–23) 1st Guards Brigade (1919) 120th Brigade (1918) 1st Battalion, Scots Guards (1914–15)
Battles/wars	Second Boer War First World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (10)
Spouse(s)	Jean Leslie Lampson
Children	Bridget, Jean, Alison, and Margaret

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Ruthven was the son of Walter James Hore-Ruthven, 9th Lord Ruthven of Freeland, 1st Baron Ruthven of Gowrie, and of his wife Lady Caroline Annesley Gore, a daughter of Philip Gore, 4th Earl of Arran. He was educated at Eton College.^[1]

In 1887, aged seventeen, Hore-Ruthven was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 3rd (Militia) battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.^[2] On 25 July 1891 he transferred to regular service in the Scots Guards, was promoted to lieutenant on 12 February 1896 and to captain on 11 October 1899.^[3] He served in the Second Boer War and took part in the Battle of Magersfontein on 10–11 December 1899, in which a defending Boer force defeated the advancing British forces with heavy casualties for the latter. He was mentioned in the despatch from Lord Methuen describing the battle.^[4] On 1 January 1902, he was appointed regimental Adjutant of the Scots Guards.^[5][6]

Ruthven later served in the First World War.^[7] He succeeded as 2nd Baron Ruthven of Gowrie and as 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland in 1921.

After the war he became Commander of the Bangalore Brigade in India and in 1924 he was appointed Major-General commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding London District.^[7] In 1929 he was made Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey.^[7] He retired in 1935.^[7]

In 1895, Ruthven married Jean Leslie Lampson, a granddaughter of Curtis Lampson, and they had four children:^[1]

• Bridget Helen Hore-Ruthven, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland (1896–1982); who married firstly George Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle and later remarried Walter Monckton, 1st Viscount Monckton of Brenchley. With her first husband, she had three children:
• Hon Jean Elizabeth St. Loe Hore-Ruthven (1898–1960); married, no issue
• Hon Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven (1902–1974); married Commander Sir John Leighton Barran, 3rd Baronet, had issue
• Hon Margaret Leslie Hore-Ruthven (1902–1970); married Peter Llewelyn Davies, had issue

After Jean Lampson's death in 1952, Lord Ruthven remarried Judith Gordon Bell.^[1]

Lord Ruthven's surname and title originated from his Irish great-grandfather Walter Hore's marriage to Scottish noblewoman Mary Ruthven, Lady Ruthven of Freeland. Walter legally changed his surname to Hore-Ruthven.

• The Master of Ruthven (1870–1921)
• Major General the Lord Ruthven of Freeland CB CMG DSO (1921–1956)

As his more senior title was in the Peerage of Scotland and may be inherited by female descendants. It has been held since 1994 by his great-grandson George Howard, 13th Earl of Carlisle, grandson of Bridget Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland.^[1] The junior title Baron Ruthven of Gowrie may only pass through male descendants and has been held since November 2021 by his great-great-nephew (Patrick Leo) Brer Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie.