William Cabell Bruce
Encyclopedia
William Cabell Bruce was an American
politician and Pulitzer Prize
-winning writer who represented the State of Maryland
in the United States Senate
from 1923 to 1929.
Bruce was born in Charlotte County, Virginia
, and received an academic education at Norwood High School and College in Nelson County, Virginia
. He later attended the University of Virginia
and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law
in 1882. Bruce was admitted to the Maryland bar
the same year and commenced law practice in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to his career in law, Bruce was also writer, and received the distinguished Pulitzer Prize
in 1918 for his book Benjamin Franklin, Self-Revealed
.
Bruce began his political career in the Maryland Senate, serving from 1894 to 1896, and was appointed as president of the Senate in 1896. He served as head of the city law department of Baltimore from 1903 to 1908; as a member of the Baltimore Charter Commission in 1910; and as general counsel to the Maryland Public Service Commission
from 1910 to 1922, at which time he resigned.
Bruce was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator in 1916, but achieved election six years later in the election of 1922. Bruce was defeated in the next election in 1928 by Republican Phillips Lee Goldsborough
, and resumed the practice of law in Baltimore until 1937, when he retired. He died in Ruxton, Maryland, and is buried at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church Cemetery in Garrison, Maryland
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning writer who represented the State of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1923 to 1929.
Bruce was born in Charlotte County, Virginia
Charlotte County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,472 people, 4,951 households, and 3,435 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 5,734 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, and received an academic education at Norwood High School and College in Nelson County, Virginia
Nelson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,445 people, 5,887 households, and 4,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
. He later attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is the second-oldest law school in the United States by date of establishment and third-oldest by date of first classes. The school is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in Downtown Baltimore's West Side...
in 1882. Bruce was admitted to the Maryland bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
the same year and commenced law practice in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to his career in law, Bruce was also writer, and received the distinguished Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography
The Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography has been presented since 1917 for a distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author.-1910s:* 1917: Julia Ward Howe by Laura E...
in 1918 for his book Benjamin Franklin, Self-Revealed
Benjamin Franklin, Self-Revealed
Benjamin Franklin, Self-Revealed is a biography of Benjamin Franklin written by William Cabell Bruce in 1917. A "biographical and critical study based mostly on [Benjamin Franklin's] own writings", the book won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 1918....
.
Bruce began his political career in the Maryland Senate, serving from 1894 to 1896, and was appointed as president of the Senate in 1896. He served as head of the city law department of Baltimore from 1903 to 1908; as a member of the Baltimore Charter Commission in 1910; and as general counsel to the Maryland Public Service Commission
Maryland Public Service Commission
The Maryland Public Service Commission is an independent administrative agency within the state government which regulates public utilities and certain taxi cab and other passenger services in Maryland...
from 1910 to 1922, at which time he resigned.
Bruce was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator in 1916, but achieved election six years later in the election of 1922. Bruce was defeated in the next election in 1928 by Republican Phillips Lee Goldsborough
Phillips Lee Goldsborough
Phillips Lee Goldsborough I , was a Republican member of the United States Senate representing State of Maryland from 1929 to 1935...
, and resumed the practice of law in Baltimore until 1937, when he retired. He died in Ruxton, Maryland, and is buried at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church Cemetery in Garrison, Maryland
Garrison, Maryland
Garrison is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States, adjacent to Owings Mills, mainly the McDonogh area and Valley Centre...
.
Select works
- Benjamin Franklin, Self-Revealed: A Biographical Sketch and Critical Study Based Mainly on His Own Writings; New York, London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1917. (Available online: Vol. I, Vol. II.)
- Below the James: A Plantation Sketch; New York: The Neale Publishing Company, 1918. (Available online.)
- John Randolph of Roanoke, 1773–1833; A Biography Based Largely on New Material, in 2 volumes; New York, London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1922. (Available online: Vol. I, Vol. II.)
- Imaginary Conversations with Franklin, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1933.
- Recollections: and, The Inn of Existence, 1936.