Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin
Encyclopedia
Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin, 13th Earl of Kincardine, KG, GCSI
, GCIE
, PC
(16 May 184918 January 1917), known as Lord Bruce until 1863, was a British statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899.
, Canada
, the son of James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin
, who served as Governor-General of Canada at the time, and his wife Lady Mary Louisa, daughter of John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
. He was educated at Glenalmond
, Eton
and Balliol College, Oxford
.
, serving as Treasurer of the Household
and as First Commissioner of Works
under William Ewart Gladstone
in 1886.
broke out in India
, in which Elgin reportedly admitted that up to 4.5 million people died.
He returned to England in 1899 and was made a Knight of the Garter
. From 1902 to 1903, Elgin was made chairman of the commission that investigated the conduct of the Second Boer War
. When the Liberals returned to power in 1905, Elgin became Secretary of State for the Colonies
(with Winston Churchill
as his Under-Secretary). As colonial secretary, he pursued a conservative policy, and opposed the generous settlement of the South African question proposed by Prime Minister Campbell-Bannerman
, which was enacted more in spite of the Colonial Secretary's opposition than due to his efforts. Elgin retired from public life in 1908.
, in 1876. They had six sons and five daughters. After her death in 1909 he married, secondly, Gertrud Lilian, daughter of William Sherbrooke and widow of Frederick Charles Ashley Ogilvy, in 1913. They had one surviving son, Bernard, who died in 1983.
in January 1917, aged 67. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son from his first marriage, Edward
. His widow, Gertrude, later remarried. She died in February 1971.
The children of Lord Elgin and his first wife were:
Lord Elgin had one son with his second wife:
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, GCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(16 May 184918 January 1917), known as Lord Bruce until 1863, was a British statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899.
Background and education
Elgin was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the son of James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin
James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin
Sir James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, KT, GCB, PC , was a British colonial administrator and diplomat...
, who served as Governor-General of Canada at the time, and his wife Lady Mary Louisa, daughter of John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham GCB, PC , also known as "Radical Jack" and commonly referred to in history texts simply as Lord Durham, was a British Whig statesman, colonial administrator, Governor General and high commissioner of British North America...
. He was educated at Glenalmond
Glenalmond College
Glenalmond College is a co-educational independent boarding school in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, for children aged between 12 and 18 years. It is situated on the River Almond near the village of Methven, about west of the city of Perth. The school's motto is Floreat Glenalmond...
, Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
Political career
Elgin entered politics as a LiberalLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, serving as Treasurer of the Household
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
and as First Commissioner of Works
First Commissioner of Works
The First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings was a position within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It took over some of the functions of the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in 1851 when the portfolio of Crown holdings was divided into the public...
under William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
in 1886.
Viceroy of India
Following in his father's footsteps, Elgin was made Viceroy of India in 1894. His viceroyalty was not a particularly notable one. Elgin himself did not enjoy the pomp and ceremony associated with the viceroyalty, and his conservative instincts were not well suited to a time of economic and social unrest. During his time as viceroy, famineFamine in India
Famine has been a recurrent feature of life in the Indian sub-continental countries of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and reached its numerically deadliest peak in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Historical and legendary evidence names some 90 famines in 2,500 years of history. There...
broke out in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in which Elgin reportedly admitted that up to 4.5 million people died.
Return to England
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. From 1902 to 1903, Elgin was made chairman of the commission that investigated the conduct of the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. When the Liberals returned to power in 1905, Elgin became Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
(with Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
as his Under-Secretary). As colonial secretary, he pursued a conservative policy, and opposed the generous settlement of the South African question proposed by Prime Minister Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
, which was enacted more in spite of the Colonial Secretary's opposition than due to his efforts. Elgin retired from public life in 1908.
Family
Lord Elgin married, firstly, Lady Constance Mary, daughter of James Carnegie, 9th Earl of SoutheskEarl of Southesk
Earl of Southesk is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for Sir David Carnegie, an Extraordinary Lord of Session. He had already been created Lord Carnegie of Kinnaird in 1616 and was made Lord Carnegie, of Kinnaird and Leuchards, at the same time he was given the Earldom....
, in 1876. They had six sons and five daughters. After her death in 1909 he married, secondly, Gertrud Lilian, daughter of William Sherbrooke and widow of Frederick Charles Ashley Ogilvy, in 1913. They had one surviving son, Bernard, who died in 1983.
Death
Lord Elgin died at the family estate in DunfermlineDunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
in January 1917, aged 67. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son from his first marriage, Edward
Edward Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin
Edward James Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin, 14th Earl of Kincardine, KT, CMG, TD, JP was the son of Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin who became Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary State for the Colonies and a director of the Royal Bank of ScotlandOn 5 January 1921, he married...
. His widow, Gertrude, later remarried. She died in February 1971.
The children of Lord Elgin and his first wife were:
- The Lady Elizabeth Mary Bruce (11 September 1877-13 May 1944)
- The Lady Christina Augusta Bruce (25 January 1879-12 September 1940)
- The Lady Constance Veronica Bruce (24 February 1880-7 July 1969)
- Edward James Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin, 14th Earl of KincardineEdward Bruce, 10th Earl of ElginEdward James Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin, 14th Earl of Kincardine, KT, CMG, TD, JP was the son of Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin who became Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary State for the Colonies and a director of the Royal Bank of ScotlandOn 5 January 1921, he married...
(9 June 1881–27 November 1968) - The Hon. Robert Bruce (18 November 1882-31 October 1959)
- The Hon. Alexander Bruce (29 July 1884-October 1917)
- The Lady Marjorie Bruce (12 December 1885-23 May 1901)
- Colonel Hon. David Bruce (11 June 1888-26 August 1964)
- The Lady Rachel Catherine Bruce (23 February 1890-17 December 1964)
- Captain Hon. John Bernard Bruce (9 April 1892-3 August 1971)
- Hon. Victor Alexander Bruce (13 February 1897-19 December 1930)
Lord Elgin had one son with his second wife:
- Hon. Bernard Bruce (12 June 1917-1983)