Born in Lancaster, England, he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1934 as an Independent member for Denison.

[2] Carruthers was educated in Lancaster and went on to Selwyn College, Cambridge, graduating Bachelor of Arts in 1901.

He trained for the Anglican ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon and was ordained deacon in 1903 and priest in 1905.

He was the parish priest for periods at Clapham, Leeds, and Wetheral, before retiring due to ill health in 1909.

[2] After leaving the ministry, Carruthers migrated to Australia and took up a fruit-growing property in New Norfolk, Tasmania.