Lady Jane Ruthven

Lady Jane Ruthven or Lady Jean Ruthven, (died 1668), of noble Scottish descent, was a lady-in-waiting at the court of Queen Christina of Sweden.

Ruthven was born to the Scottish general Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Forth, who was in Swedish service from 1609 to 1637, and Jane Henderson. She was also the maternal niece of General John Henderson. Her father and uncle were both in Swedish service, and she kept in contact with the latter after he left Sweden. She had Roman Catholic sympathies through her mother and uncle.

Queen Christina generally paid little attention to her female courtiers, but Ruthven, as well as Louise van der Nooth and Ebba Sparre, are described as exceptions. It is known that the English ambassador Bulstrode Whitelocke cultivated her company because of her influence at the Swedish court.

Before July 1661, she married James Forrester, 2nd Lord Forrester of Corstorphine.

References

• Eva Österberg, red (1997). Jämmerdal & Fröjdesal. Kvinnor i stormaktstidens Sverige. Stockholm: Atlantis AB. ISBN 91-7486-355-x
• Network North: Scottish Kin, Commercial And Covert Associations in Northern ... Steve Murdoch
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p20500.htm#i204995