James Ruthven, Baron Ruthven FRSE (1777 - 1853) was a 19th-century Scottish peer and professional soldier.
He was born at Melville House south of Monimail near Cupar in Fife[1] on 17 October 1777. He was the eldest son of James Ruthven, 6th Lord Ruthven of Freeland and his wife, Lady Mary Elizabeth Leslie.[2] He succeeded his father as 7th Lord Ruthven of Freeland in 1789.
Until 1807 he was a Major in the 90th Regiment of Foot also known as the Perthshire Volunteers.
In 1825 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being Sir Thomas Dick Lauder.[3]
He died on 27 July 1853.
In 1813 he married Mary Hamilton Campbell of Shawfield. They had no children.