John Ruthven (general)

[1] As Christian IV of Denmark made peace with the Habsburg Emperor in 1629, Ruthven, along with many other Scottish soldiers in Danish service, then turned to Sweden to continue the war.

He first appears in Swedish service in 1629 serving as a captain of the Scottish infantry at Stralsund under the command of Alexander Leslie.

[2] Ruthven was promoted to major-general by 1636 and took part in the Battle of Wittstock as de facto commander of the reserve when Major General Vitzthum refused orders to advance.

[4] In 1638 he sought permission to leave Swedish service in order to return to Scotland to participate in the Bishops' Wars under his uncle's command.

Ruthven was however involved with the merchant financier Robert Inglis in raising money for the Scottish army in 1643 as a loan from the Countess of Home.