Gowrie, John Ruthven, 3rd earl of
- Gowrie, John Ruthven, 3rd earl of
-
▪ Scottish conspirator
born c. 1577
died Aug. 5, 1600, Gowrie House, Perth, Perthshire, Scot.
alleged Scottish conspirator, one of the principals in the mysterious “Gowrie Conspiracy” of 1600, slain in the presence of James VI (
afterward James I of Great Britain).
The second son of William, 4th Lord Ruthven and 1st earl of Gowrie (1541?–84), he succeeded his elder brother,
James, the 2nd earl, in 1588. After an excellent education at the University of Edinburgh, he went abroad to continue his studies at Padua. While abroad he earned the friendship of the reformer Theodore Beza, and his return to Scotland in 1600 was welcomed by the party of the Presbyterian ministers. Shortly after his return he annoyed James VI by opposing in the convention of estates the King's proposals for taxation. On Aug. 5, 1600, he and his younger brother, Alexander Ruthven (1580?–1600), were slain in mysterious circumstances at Gowrie House in Perth.
Certain facts are well established. As James VI was setting out from Falkland to hunt early on August 5, he was accosted by Alexander Ruthven and after the hunt accompanied him to Gowrie House. Later, James's retinue were preparing to leave when they saw the King struggling at a turret window and heard his cry for help. They thereupon forced an entrance to the turret, and in ensuing struggles Gowrie and his brother were killed.
James's story was that Alexander enticed him to Perth to examine an unknown man with a pot of gold whom he had found and secretly imprisoned. When the King and Alexander had gone up to the turret, Alexander locked the door and threatened James with a dagger, and after some argument there was a struggle. A third man who was present disobeyed Alexander and in fact assisted the King. This man mysteriously disappeared from the scene, only to reemerge some days later and confirm the King's evidence.
In spite of an inquiry on an unprecedented scale, involving several hundred witnesses, the true explanation of the “Gowrie Conspiracy” was a mystery at the time and will probably remain so. James's story was received with incredulity by the majority of his own contemporaries. The balance of probabilities strongly suggests that the Ruthvens miscarried in a plot to seize the King's person. Yet for such a plot no clear motive can be found in contemporary politics or in the careers and characters of the principal participants.
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie — Infobox Person subject name=John Ruthven birth date=1577 birth place=Perth, Scotland death date=5 August, 1600 death place=Perth, Scotland education=University of Edinburgh title=Earl of Gowrie spouse= parents=William Ruthven Dorothea Stewart… … Wikipedia
John Ramsay, 1st Earl of Holderness — (c. 1580 ndash; 28 February 1626) was an important Scottish aristocrat of the Jacobean era, best known in history as the first favourite of James I when he became king of England as well as Scotland in 1603.Ramsay had been a page at the Scottish… … Wikipedia
James Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie — (? 1586) was a Scottish peer, the middle brother of a family of three. His brothers William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie and John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie were active in Scottish politics, James held his title for only two years … Wikipedia
Gowrie — ( gd. Gobharaidh) is a region and ancient province of Scotland, covering most of the eastern part of what became Perthshire. The province is the home of such ancient Scottish royal sites as Scone and perhaps Forteviot. Its chief settlement is the … Wikipedia
Gowrie (disambiguation) — Gowrie may refer to several places:* Gowrie, a province in Scotland ** Carse of Gowrie, the southern part of Gowrie noted for its farmlandGowrie may also refer to: * Gowrie, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra, Australia * Gowrie,… … Wikipedia
Earl of Gowrie — The title of Earl of Gowrie has been created twice in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.On 23 August 1581 William Ruthven, Lord Ruthven was created Earl of Gowrie. He was executed for high treason, attainted… … Wikipedia
William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie — William Ruthven, 4th Lord Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie (c. 1541 ndash; 1584) was a son of Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven.Life accountLike his father, William was prominent in the political intrigues of the period and was also concerned in the… … Wikipedia
Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie — Infobox Officeholder honorific prefix = Brigadier General The Right Honourable name = Sir Alexander Hore Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie honorific suffix = VC GCMG CB DSO PC imagesize = small caption = order = 10th office = Governor General of… … Wikipedia
Clan Ruthven — Crest badge … Wikipedia
Earl of Leven — David Melville, 3rd Earl of Leven. Earl of Leven (pronounced Lee ven ) is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1641 for Alexander Leslie. He was succeeded by his grandson Alexander, who was in turn followed by his daughters… … Wikipedia
