BRUCE, ROBERT [SSNE 1676]

Surname

BRUCE

First name

ROBERT

Title/rank

LT. GENERAL

Nationality

SCOT

Region

ST PETERSBURG

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Robert Bruce (1668-1720) was the son of Major-General William Bruce and was born in St. Petersburg. He was active in the army during the Crimean and Azov campaigns. By 1700 Robert had attained the rank of colonel. In 1704 he became first High Commandant of St. Petersburg, directly responsible for construction and defence of the city and in theis capacity he repulsed several Swedish attacks on it. During the campaign of 1710 he besieged Viborg and seized Kexholm, and was made Lieutenant General. In 1719 Bruce became a member of the War College. He is notable for having founded the first Evangelical church of St. Anne in the capital. When he died he was buried near SS Peter and Paul's Cathedral. Bruce and his wife had nine children including Alexander (1704-1760), Elizabeth Dorothy and Mary who married the Fermor brothers.

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.

Service record

RUSSIA, RUSSIAN ARMY

Arrived 1700-01-01, as COLONEL

Departed 1720-12-31, as LT. GENERAL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY