 Ryding also served as Minister for War for five years

Ryding was born on 28 August 1831 at Sandgärdet, near Vänersborg, in Västra Tunhem socken, Älvsborg County.He was the younger brother of Gustaf Ryding (1833–1901), future Governor of Västernorrland County.He passed "studentexamen" in Uppsala in 1849 and was commissioned as an officer in the Göta Artillery Regiment in 1851 with the rank of "Underlöjtnant".