Protestant who played an important role in the political intrigues of 16th-century Scotland.

Having been one of the leaders of the reforming opposition to the regent Mary of Lorraine, Ruthven was prominent in arranging the marriage (1565) between Mary Stuart, queen of Scots, and Lord Darnley. In 1566 he rose from a sickbed to lead the murderers of the queen's secretary, David Riccio (Riccio, David), after which he fled to England, where he died the following year. His Relation of the Death of David Rizzi is preserved in the British Museum and was first printed in 1699.