The Honourable Leslie Ruthven
(1820-1877)
17 May 1861

Volume 3, page 257, sitting number 3710.

Probably the Honourable Alexander Leslie Melville Hore-Ruthven, third son of Mary Elizabeth Thornton, Baroness Ruthven. He was a Captain in the 2nd Berkshire Rifle Volunteers. His name is mentioned in the Court Circular on 12 November 1860 as one of the guests who had dined with the Queen at Windsor on the previous day.

He appears on the 1861 census, a lodger in Windsor, aged 41. He gave Scotland as his place of birth, and for profession, he gave 'Banking (Nevile Reid & Co.).'

Captain the Honourable Leslie Hore-Ruthven died, aged 54, on 11 May 1877 at Voelas Hall, Bettwys-y-Coed, North Wales. He left an estate valued at £5000.

According to the Western Morning News (30 May 1877), 'The Hon. Leslie Ruthven, who has just died, was the moving spirit of the well-known firm of bankers and brewers at Windsor, Messrs Nevile, Reid, and Company, and as a handler of the ribbons might even be considered one of the sights to be seen at the home of the Queen. Prince Christian and the Lord Chamberlain were among the mourners at the deceased gentleman's funeral; and by the special desire of Madame Van de Weyer, he was buried by the side of her husband, the late Belgian Minister.'

[From an album compiled by Elizabeth Van de Weyer, wife of Jean Sylvain Van de Weyer, the Belgian ambassador to the Court of St James.]