C.
C. JOHN RUTHERFOORD.
Senior Councillor
and
Acting Governor.
C. March, 1841, to March, 1842.
Thomas Rutherfoord, a native of Kircaldy, Scotland,
was born in Glasgow, January 9, 1766. Having received
good educational advantages and a subsequent mercantile
training, he was entrusted by the firm in whose employment
he was, with a cargo of goods valued at ¢10,000, for disposition
in Virginia. The young and trusted apprentice set
sail from Dublin, October 10, 1784, furnished with a letter of
recommendation to General Washington from Sir Edward
Neversham, member of Parliament from the County of Dublin.
Thomas Rutherfoord met with deserved success, was
admitted as a partner with his employers, and soon acquired
the entire business as merchant, miller, importer, and exporter.
Having at first located in Richmond, he became in
time one of the largest real estate owners in the city. He
developed a marked individuality of character and grew to
be a clear and vigorous writer. His papers on various subjects
connected with commerce and the tariff question were
considered very exhaustive and met with widespread commendation.
He married Sarah Winston, and left thirteen
children, among whom was "John," their eldest son, the
subject of this notice.
John Rutherfoord was born in Richmond, Virginia, December
6, 1792. After a thorough preliminary course at
school he finished his education at Princeton, New Jersey,
and adopting the profession of law, entered upon its practice
most successfully. In 1826 he was elected to the House of
Delegates from the City of Richmond, and served, with some
intervals, in that body until 1839, when he was appointed
one of the Councillors of State, as provided by the amended
Constitution of 1830. As Senior Councillor, Mr. Rutherfoord,
on the 31st of March, 1841, succeeded John Mercer
Patton as Acting Governor of Virginia, and continued to
serve until March 31, 1842. Governor Rutherfoord continued
as a member of the State Council until the year 1846. In
1836 he was elected president of the Mutual Assurance Society
of Virginia, in which position he served efficiently for
thirty years. He was also much interested in the volunteer
military organizations of the state, and was the originator and
first Captain of the Richmond Fayette Artillery organized
June 20, 1821. He obtained the rank of Colonel, by which
title he was familiarly known.
Governor Rutherfoord married, April 24, 1816, Emily
Anne Coles, and left numerous descendants. He died at
Richmond, Virginia, August 3, 1866, and is buried in
Shockoe Hill Cemetery, leaving the memory of a man of
strong intellect and vigorous character, combined with those
enduring charms which ever attach to a modest, virtuous,
unassuming gentleman.
