BRUCE, WILLIAM [SSNE 1675]
- Surname
- BRUCE
- First name
- WILLIAM
- Title/rank
- MAJOR-GENERAL
- Nationality
- SCOT
- Region
- STIRLING
- Social status
- OFFICER
Text source
William Bruce (c.1625-1680) came from the Clackmannan branch of the family. In 1647 he joined Tsar's army as ensign having allegedly previously been enlisted in the Dutch Republic. Bruce fought and was wounded in Muscovy's Polish and Swedish wars. Having fought in many wars for Tsar Michael, Bruce was appointed a colonel in 1658. Bruce's regiment garrisoned the frontier garrison of Pskov and after Tsar Fedor came to the throne he gained further promotion to Major General c.1676. He married the widow of a fellow Scot, Col. George Inglis [SSNE 3943]. The children of William Bruce and Widow Inglis were Robert [SSNE 1676] (born 1668), James [SSNE 2467] (born 1669) and Elizabeth.
Sources: D. Fedosov, The First Russian Bruces in G. Simpson (ed.), The Scottish Soldier Abroad, 1247-1967 (Edinburgh, 1992), p.56; D. Fedosov, The Caledonian Connection (Aberdeen, 1996). p.13.
William Bruce does not appear in the Jemas Ferguson's comprehensive work Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in the Service of the United Netherlands, vol. 1 1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899) leaving us devoid of evidence for his service in the Dutch Republic.
Service record
- THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE DUTCH REPUBLIC
- Arrived 1646-01-01
- Departed 1647-12-31
- Capacity REFUGEE?, purpose REFUGEE?
- RUSSIA, RUSSIAN ARMY
- Arrived 1647-01-01, as ENSIGN
- Departed 1658-12-31, as COLONEL
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY