James Bruce (1732–1791)
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Count James Bruce (; 1732 – 30 November 1791) was a Russian general of Scottish origin. His grandfather was Lieutenant General
Robert Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (), was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against England. He fought successfully dur ...
, a Scottish immigrant to Russia, and he was also great-nephew of Jacob Bruce. His father was Lieutenant Colonel Count Alexander Bruce, and
Ekaterina Alekseyevna Dolgorukova Princess Ekaterina Alekseyevna Dolgorukova (; 1712–1747) was a Russian noble, engaged to Tsar Peter II of Russia. Biography She was the daughter of the Russian Prince Alexei Dolgorukov and niece to Prince Vasily Lukich Dolgorukov. She grew ...
was his stepmother. James Bruce married Praskovia Rumiantseva, sister of General (and later
Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
)
Pyotr Rumyantsev Count Pyotr Alexandrovich Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky (; – ) was one of the foremost Russian generals of the 18th century, and is widely considered to be one of Russia's greatest military leaders, and one of the greatest military commanders in ...
. Praskovia was a
lady-in-waiting A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...
and friend of
Catherine the Great Catherine II. (born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 172917 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the reigning empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. She came to power after overthrowing her husband, Peter I ...
. These connections greatly helped the career of James Bruce. In 1774, he became Commander of the Finland Division. Even after Praskovia was banned from the court in 1779, after having had an affair with the Empress' lover, Bruce stayed in favour and received new posts. Bruce first became simultaneously
Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...
of
Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
and
Saint Petersburg Governorate Saint Petersburg Governorate was a province (''guberniya'') of the Russian Empire, with its capital in Saint Petersburg. The governorate was composed of of area and 2,112,033 inhabitants. It was bordered by Governorate of Estonia, Estonian and G ...
s between 1784 and 1786, and then of Saint Petersburg only until 1791. He died the same year, without male offspring, and with him ended the line of the Russian counts Bruce. His only daughter Catherine died childless in 1829.


See also

* Scottish Russians


Notes


External links


Yakov Alexandrovich Bruce, Moscow's commander-in-chief (Московский главнокомандующий) from 4 September 1784 to 26 June 1786
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruce, James 1732 births 1791 deaths Counts of the Russian Empire Imperial Russian Army generals 18th-century military personnel from the Russian Empire People from the Russian Empire of Scottish descent Burials at the Annunciation Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra Governors-general of Saint Petersburg