The Famous Faces of Bruce

Robert the Bruce just had to be the very first Bruce on our list. He’s one of our most favourite Scottish figures and if you know us, you know that we love taking any opportunity to talk about him. So, let’s get right into it. Robert the Bruce was, of course, King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. He is an incredibly renowned medieval warrior and remains one of Scotland’s great heroes today! He was especially important during the First War of Scottish Independence, in which his actions successfully helped regain Scotland's place as an independent kingdom from Britain. However, not all of the Bruce's life was so positively revered. His involvement in John Comyn's murder in 1306, while a significant factor in him taking the throne, also actually led to his excommunication by Pope Clement V. Shortly after these events, Edward I's forces defeated Robert in the battle of Methven, which forced him to flee into hiding. However, by 1307, he had defeated an English army at Loudoun Hill and began his quite famous guerrilla war against the English. In 1314, we arrive at his most famous battle, the Battle of Bannockburn, of course! Robert defeated a much larger English army under Edward II of England, and ultimately confirmed the re-establishment of an independent Scottish kingdom!

Next up is the son of the current Chief of Clan Bruce and is Scottish solicitor, businessman and aristocrat. Adam Robert Bruce was born in Edinburgh and studied at both the University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh. He previously acted as a Solicitor and Director of Public Policy with McGrigors in Edinburgh to acting as the current global head of corporate affairs at Mainstream Renewable Power, he’s quite the impressive Bruce! That’s not all, though. In 2008, Adam was appointed an officer of arms at the Lyon Court as Unicorn Pursuivant and later in April 2012, he was promoted to the position of Marchmont Herald. Finally, Bruce is also a Trustee of the St Andrews Fund for Scots Heraldry and a Member of the Council of the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet. We can hardly imagine a more remarkable member of the Bruce family!

Edward Bruce was an early modern Scottish lawyer and judge. Since we’re talking late 16th century, here, Edward Bruce had much to do with two very significant figures of the time. Any guesses? That’s right, Bruce was of significance for both James VI and Queen Elizabeth I! In 1594 James VI dispatched him as ambassador in order to invite Queen Elizabeth to send a representative to the baptism of Prince Henry, discuss the (scandalous) matters of the Earl of Bothwell and of the Catholic presence in Scotland, and to handle money dealings between James and Elizabeth. Quite a tall order. He dealt with affairs between them more than once and during his time in London, he also took on legal cases, most notably on behalf of his brother, George Bruce of Carnock. Edward Bruce’s work was certainly successful and after he became an English subject, he was admitted to the Privy Council and appointed Master of the Rolls for life. He also received Whorlton Castle and its manor in 1603, and finally, in 1604, he was made Lord Bruce of Kinloss. As you can see, the Bruce family experiences success after success. Keep reading to find out who’s next…

Okay, moving across the pond, here with our last famous face—Benjamin F. Bruce, a politician from New York. You didn’t think we’d leave New York out, did you? He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846, which primed him for future greatness. Benjamin became Inspector-General of the New York State Militia from 1851 to 1852, and later from 1855 to 1858. By then, he’d become a member of the New York Republican State Committee. In January 1861, he was elected Canal Commissioner by the New York State Legislature, for which he also served again from 1864 to 1866. Finally, in 186, he was a member of the New York State Assembly for Madison County! Our favourite part of Benjamin Bruce’s story is that, funnily enough, his daughter managed to marry Canal Commissioner Reuben W. Stroud, which we’re sure her father most readily approved of!