Richard Ruck

Major-General Sir Richard Mathews Ruck (27 May 1851 – 17 March 1935) was a British Army officer who served with the Royal Engineers, spending most of his career in the Submarine Mining Service, before becoming the Director of Fortifications and Works (the equivalent of the Chief Royal Engineer). He was a keen amateur sportsman, who played football for the Royal Engineers, helping them to victory in the 1875 FA Cup Final. Family and education Richard Ruck was born at Pennal, Merionethshire, Wales on 27 May 1851, the fourth child and second son of Laurence Ruck (c.1820–1896), a gentleman farmer, originally from Newington in Kent. Richard acquired his second Christian name from his mother, Mary Anne Mathews (1822–1905), whose family could claim descent from Owain Glyndŵr, the last Welsh native Prince of Wales. Richard's siblings included: Mary Elizabeth Ruck (1842–1920): married Robert Travers Atkin, a newspaper editor; their son, James, became an eminent judge and was ennobled as James Atkin, Baron Atkin. Arthur Ashley Ruck (1847–1939): served with The King's (Liverpool Regiment), retiring in 1886 with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was later the Chief Constable of Caenarvonshire. His daughter Amy Roberta (1878–1978) was a writer of romance novels. Amy Richenda Ruck (1850–1876): married Francis Darwin, the botanist son of the naturalist Charles Darwin. She died shortly after the birth of her son, Bernard, the golf writer. Oliver Edwal Ruck (1856–1934): also served with the Royal Engineers and played in the 1878 FA Cup Final. Ruck was educated privately, before joining the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.