Rutherford was born in Liverpool in 1853, the eldest son of William Rutherford. He was educated at the Merchant Taylor′s school, Great Crosby, and was articled in 1870 to the solicitor John Hughes (who would later serve as mayor of the city in 1883). He was admitted a solicitor in 1875, and became a junior partner in the firm of Messrs. Miller, Peel and Hughes in 1878. After the death of Hughes, he became head of the firm.[1]
He was elected to the City Council for Netherfield Ward in 1895, and was for a year chairman of the Tramways Committee overseeing the construction of electric trams in Liverpool.[1]
After he was elected to parliament on 20 January 1903,[6] he was also re-elected as mayor on 4 February 1903 and served the remainder of the term until November 1903.[7]