 Tuff was the son of Henry Tuff from Rochester, and the grandson of Mary Tuff, a wealthy lime-burner from nearby Borstal He was born in Plumstead, but spent nearly all his life in Rochester.He was the head of several large firm of merchants and contractors, including a large fleet of barges on the River Medway.He was mayor of Rochester from 1900 to 1902, having been long involved in local politics, chairing a local Conservative ward committee.