James Bruce

• Birth Notes
  • 
    Born and died on the Kinnaird estate, Stirlingshire.
    

• Death Notes
  • 
    Iron pillar, moved from his grave to car park at Larbert Old Parish church:
    "Left Side of Stone
    In this tomb are deposited the remains of JAMES BRUCE Esqr. Of Kinnaird
    Who died on the 27th of April 1794 in the 64th year of his age.
    His life was spent in performing useful and splendid actions
    He explored many distant regions, he discovered the fountains of the Nile
    He traversed the deserts of Nubia
    He was an affectionate husband, an indulgent parent, an ardent lover of his country
    By the unanimous voice of mankind his name is enrolled with those who were conspicuous
    For genius, for valour and for virtue."
    
    

• General Notes
  • 
    "Bruce of the Nile"
    
    James Bruce, 7th of Kinnaird, born at Kinnaird 14th december 1730. Educated at Harrow & Edinburgh University where he studied law but did not like it. He went to London and in 1754 married Adriana Allan, the daughter of a rich wine merchant and became a partner in the business. Adriana died at Paris within a year of their marriage. James Bruce now went on to study languages and travelled in France, Spain, Portugal & the Netherlands. His father died in 1758 and he returned to London. In 1761 he retired from the wine trade. Around this time he 'submitted to the Government a project for a descent on Spain, there being a rumour of a war between Great Britain and Spain'. In 1763 he was appointed Consul General at Algiers. There he studied oriental languages and surgery.
    In June 1768, he proceeded to Alexandria and from Cairo set out on his famous journey to Abyssinia whch forms an epoch in the annals of discovery. He arrived at Jeddah in April 1769 after many adventures and detentions reached Gondar, the capital of Abyssinia in February 1770 and on 14th November of that year succeeded in reaching the sources of thr Abawi, then considered the main stream of the Nile.
    
    In 1774 he returned to Scotland. His "Travels" appeared in 1790 and 'startled the belief of many'. He married (2nd) on 20th May 1776, Mary, eldest daughter of Thomas Dundas of Carron Hall. Bruce died in a tragic manner, he had been entertaining some company at Kinnaird and when haning a lady to her carriage, his foot slipped on the stair and he fell down headlong. he was taken up speechles, much cut and bruised and died on Sunday 27th April 1794 in the 64th year of his age. He was buried in Larbert Churchyard where there is a tombstone with an inscription setting forth his virtues and accomplishments.
    
    By his wife, Mary Dundas, Bruce left 2 sons, Robert who died young and James who succeeded him, also a daughter Janet Maitland who married John Jardine.
    
    Source: The Lands and Lairds of Larbert & Dunipace Parishes', John C. Gibson, 1908 quoted by Anne Anderson.