Sir Robert Rutherfurd (31 May 1719 – 13 February 1794) was a Scottish merchant who was made a Baron of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

Early life

Rutherfurd was born on 31 May 1719. He was the fourth son of Sir John Rutherfurd of Rutherfurd and Edgerston, and his first wife, Elizabeth Cairncross, who married in 1710. His father was the head of an old Roxburgh family. Among his eighteen siblings were

John Rutherfurd John Rutherfurd (September 20, 1760February 23, 1840) was an American politician and land surveyor. He represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 1791 to 1798. Early life and education Rutherfurd was born on September 20, 1760, in ...

, MP for

Roxburghshire Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh () is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the northwest, and Berwickshire to the north. T ...

, and

Walter Rutherfurd Walter Rutherfurd (December 29, 1723 – January 10, 1804) was a Scottish-American soldier and merchant who served as the president of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York. Early life Rutherfurd was born on December 29, 1723, in E ...

, who moved to America and became a prominent merchant. His paternal grandparents were Thomas Rutherfurd of

Teviotdale Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh () is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the northwest, and Berwickshire to the north. T ...

and Susannah (née Riddell) Rutherfurd, and he was eleventh in descent from James Rutherfurd of

Clan Rutherford Clan Rutherford or Rutherfurd/Rutherford (surname), Rutherfurd is a Lowland Scottish clan of the Scottish Borders. The clan is officially recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; however, as it does not currently have a Scottish clan chief, clan ...

, who was granted the manorial lands of Edgerston in 1492 by King

James IV of Scotland James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was List of Scottish monarchs, King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James I ...

. His maternal grandfather was William Cairncross of West Langlee,

Career

Rutherfurd was a merchant and lived in Italy for 40 years before returning to Scotland in 1777. While in Italy, he was the Russian agent at

Livorno Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 152,916 residents as of 2025. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn ...

and

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

, and had reportedly "made himself useful to Russia during her war with the Turks in 1770." He was created a Baron of Russia by

Catherine the Great Catherine II. (born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 172917 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the reigning empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. She came to power after overthrowing her husband, Peter I ...

in 1768 and was presented by the Empress with a gold enameled box richly set with diamonds.

Personal life

Rutherfurd bought back the family estate, Fairnington, in 1779. The property had first been acquired by the Rutherfurds in 1647 from

Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch (21 December 1626 – 22 November 1651) was a Scottish peer. He was the son of Walter Scott, 1st Earl of Buccleuch and his wife, Lady Mary Hay, daughter of Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll. Upon the death of h ...

. On the estate, he built an octagonal summerhouse and observatory with piended roof surmounted by iron finial known as "Baron´s Folly" or "Down Law". Upon his death in 1794 without issue, he left his estate to his nephew,

, an MP for Roxburghshire who married Mary Ann Leslie (the only child of Maj.-Gen.

Alexander Leslie Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven (4 April 1661) was a Scottish army officer. Born illegitimate and raised as a foster child, he subsequently advanced to the rank of field marshal in Swedish Army, and in Scotland became Lord General in comma ...

and a granddaughter of

Alexander Leslie, 5th Earl of Leven Alexander Leslie, 5th Earl of Leven (28 May 1695 – 2 September 1754) was a Scottish aristocrat. Early life He was the son of David Leslie, 3rd Earl of Leven (1660–1728) and Lady Anne Wemyss (1675–1702). His mother was the eldest daughte ...

). On John's death without issue in 1834, the estate passed to Charles Rutherfurd, son of Maj. John Rutherfurd of Mossburnford (the son of Sir Robert's brother Thomas Rutherford). It later passed to Charles' brother Thomas.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rutherfurd, Robert 1719 births 1794 deaths

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

Barons of the Russian Empire 18th-century Scottish merchants