Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin, 13th Earl of Kincardine, KG,GCSI,GCIE,PC (16 May 1849 – 18 January 1917), known as Lord Bruce until 1863, was a right-wing British Liberal politician who served as Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899. He was appointed by Prime Minister Arthur Balfour to hold an investigative enquiry into the conduct of the Boer War in 1902 to 1903. The Elgin Commission was the first of its kind in the British Empire, and it travelled to South Africa and took oral evidence from men who had actually fought in the battles. It was the first to value the lives of the dead and to consider the feelings of mourning relatives left behind, and it was the first occasion in the history of the British Army that recognised the testimony of ordinary soldiery as well as that of the officers.[1]
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. He said, "India is the pivot of our Empire... If the Empire loses any other part of its Dominion we can survive, but if we lose India, the sun of our Empire will have set."
During his time as Viceroy, famine broke out in India, in which Elgin reportedly admitted that up to 4.5 million people died.[2] Other estimates have put the death toll at 11 million people.[2] His administration in India was otherwise notable for the Afridifrontier risings of 1897–1898.[3]
The Elgin Committee discussed cavalry in spring 1903. Many mounted infantry units had been raised during the Boer War, some from scratch and some by converting infantry units. All were agreed that cavalry should be trained to fight dismounted with firearms, but traditionalists wanted cavalry still to be trained as the arme blanche, charging with lance and sabre. Although the traditional view appears absurd with hindsight, at the time matters were less clearcut. General French stressed the importance of morale, after the success of his cavalry charges at Elandslaagte and Kimberley. That view was by no means extreme: Maj-Gen J.P. Brabazon thought sword and lance were suitable only for "Latin" cavalry, and that "Anglo-Saxons" should instead be equipped with "a light battleaxe or tomahawk". After Wolseley, Evelyn Wood and Roberts (all of whom had seen the future of cavalry as being for use as mounted infantry only) had retired, the traditional view was reestablished as French and his protégé Major-General Haig rose to the top of the Army.[5] The recommendations of the Commission were never fully implemented. The Esher Report into the future of the Army overshadowed its findings, and the Army came to be dominated by the High Tory reorganisation of the War Office.
Colonial SecretaryEdit
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 because of his efforts. After being dropped from the next government by the next Prime Minister, Asquith, Elgin retired from public life in 1908.[6]
HonoursEdit
Lord Elgin was appointed Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) on his appointment as Viceroy in 1894. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) on his return to the United Kingdom in 1899.
In July 1902, he received the freedom of the city of St Andrews "in recognition of his devotion to the public service, whether holding the exalted position of Viceroy of India, where he watched over the interests of a vast Empire with remarkable skill, prudence, and success, or discharging the duties connected with county government and giving his time and wide experience as Chairman of the Carnegie Trust for the advancement of education in Scotland".[7]
FamilyEdit
Constance, Countess of Elgin (1876), daughter of Sir James Carnegie, 9th Earl of SoutheskThe Earl of Elgin at his private estate in Scotland, 1889.
Hon. Robert Bruce (18 November 1882 – 31 October 1959)
Hon. Alexander Bruce (29 July 1884 – October 1917)
Lady Marjorie Bruce (12 December 1885 – 23 May 1901)
Colonel Hon. David Bruce (11 June 1888 – 26 August 1964)
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).
After Lady Elgin's death in 1909, he married Gertrude Lilian, daughter of William Sherbrooke and widow of Frederick Charles Ashley Ogilvy, in 1913. They had one posthumous son:
Hon. Bernard Bruce (12 June 1917 – 17 June 1983)
DeathEdit
Lord Elgin died at the family estate in Dunfermline in January 1917, at 67. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son from his first marriage, Edward.
His widow, Gertrude, later remarried and died in February 1971.
Kincardine whiskyEdit
Kincardine whisky was released in November 2016 by Fusion Whisky Ltd, in partnership with independent bottler and distillery Adelphi.[8]
It was made to honour his achievements, particularly his time in India when he served as Viceroy and Governor-Consul. It featured photography from the Bruce family's archive.
The Kincardine was a blend, or fusion, of seven-year-old India single malt whisky from Amrut distillery in Bangalore and mature single malt Scotch whisky from Glen Elgin and Macallan distilleries in Speyside. Only 800 bottles were produced, with a price of about £135 and ABV of 52.9%. It was the fourth international blend from Fusion Whisky and followed from the highly acclaimed Glover whiskies.[9]
Adelphi's Alex Bruce is the great-grandson of Victor Bruce.
^Elizabeth Lane Furdell. (1996). "Bruce, Victor Alexander". In James Stuart Olson, Robert Shadle (ed.). Historical Dictionary of the British Empire: A-J. Greenwood Press. pp. 204–205. ISBN0-313-29366-X.
^"The Freedom of St Andrews". The Times. No. 36824. London. 19 July 1902. p. 14.
^"Scotch-Indian whisky hybrid launches". www.scotchwhisky.com. 8 November 2016.
^"The Glover 18 year old". www.malt-review.com. 25 August 2016.
Further readingEdit
Elgin Papers, India Office Records, British Library
Queen Victoria - "Journals"
Queen Victoria - "Our Life in the Highlands"
Hyam, Ronald. Elgin and Churchill at the Colonial Office 1905-1908: The Watershed of the Empire-Commonwealth. Macmillan & Co., London, 1968.
Bence-Jones, Mark. The Viceroys of India. Constable, London, 1982.
Reid, Walter (2006). Architect of Victory: Douglas Haig. Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh, 2006. ISBN1-84158-517-3.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin.
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Elgin
Kidd, Charles, ed. (1903). Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London: Dean and son. p. 352.
victor, bruce, earl, elgin, victor, alexander, bruce, earl, elgin, 13th, earl, kincardine, gcsi, gcie, 1849, january, 1917, known, lord, bruce, until, 1863, right, wing, british, liberal, politician, served, viceroy, india, from, 1894, 1899, appointed, prime, . Victor Alexander Bruce 9th Earl of Elgin 13th Earl of Kincardine KG GCSI GCIE PC 16 May 1849 18 January 1917 known as Lord Bruce until 1863 was a right wing British Liberal politician who served as Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899 He was appointed by Prime Minister Arthur Balfour to hold an investigative enquiry into the conduct of the Boer War in 1902 to 1903 The Elgin Commission was the first of its kind in the British Empire and it travelled to South Africa and took oral evidence from men who had actually fought in the battles It was the first to value the lives of the dead and to consider the feelings of mourning relatives left behind and it was the first occasion in the history of the British Army that recognised the testimony of ordinary soldiery as well as that of the officers 1 The Right HonourableThe Earl of ElginKG GCSI GCIE PCVictor Bruce c 1897Secretary of State for the ColoniesIn office 10 December 1905 12 April 1908MonarchEdward VIIPrime MinisterHenry Campbell BannermanPreceded byAlfred LytteltonSucceeded byThe Earl of CreweViceroy and Governor General of IndiaIn office 11 October 1894 6 January 1899MonarchVictoriaPreceded byThe Marquess of LansdowneSucceeded byThe Lord Curzon of KedlestonPersonal detailsBorn 1849 05 16 16 May 1849Montreal Canada East Province of CanadaDied18 January 1917 1917 01 18 aged 67 Dunfermline Fife United KingdomNationalityBritishPolitical partyLiberalSpouse s 1 Lady Constance Mary 2 Gertrud Lilian Ashley Sherbrooke d 1971Children12 including Edward Bruce 10th Earl of ElginParent s James Bruce 8th Earl of Elgin Lady May Louisa LambtonAlma materBalliol College Oxford Contents 1 Background and education 2 Political career 2 1 Viceroy of India 2 2 Elgin Commission 2 3 Colonial Secretary 3 Honours 4 Family 5 Death 6 Kincardine whisky 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksBackground and education EditElgin was born in Montreal Canada East now Montreal Quebec the son of James Bruce 8th Earl of Elgin who served as Governor General of Canada at the time and his wife Lady May Louisa daughter of John Lambton 1st Earl of Durham He was educated at Glenalmond Eton and Balliol College Oxford 1 Political career EditElgin entered politics as a Liberal serving as Treasurer of the Household and as First Commissioner of Works under William Ewart Gladstone in 1886 Viceroy of India Edit nbsp Lord Elgin nbsp Coats of Arms of Victor Bruce 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 He said India is the pivot of our Empire If the Empire loses any other part of its Dominion we can survive but if we lose India the sun of our Empire will have set During his time as Viceroy famine broke out in India in which Elgin reportedly admitted that up to 4 5 million people died 2 Other estimates have put the death toll at 11 million people 2 His administration in India was otherwise notable for the Afridi frontier risings of 1897 1898 3 Elgin Commission Edit Elgin 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 He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 1st Fifeshire Volunteer Artillery Corps on 26 March 1902 4 The Elgin Committee discussed cavalry in spring 1903 Many mounted infantry units had been raised during the Boer War some from scratch and some by converting infantry units All were agreed that cavalry should be trained to fight dismounted with firearms but traditionalists wanted cavalry still to be trained as the arme blanche charging with lance and sabre Although the traditional view appears absurd with hindsight at the time matters were less clearcut General French stressed the importance of morale after the success of his cavalry charges at Elandslaagte and Kimberley That view was by no means extreme Maj Gen J P Brabazon thought sword and lance were suitable only for Latin cavalry and that Anglo Saxons should instead be equipped with a light battleaxe or tomahawk After Wolseley Evelyn Wood and Roberts all of whom had seen the future of cavalry as being for use as mounted infantry only had retired the traditional view was reestablished as French and his protege Major General Haig rose to the top of the Army 5 The recommendations of the Commission were never fully implemented The Esher Report into the future of the Army overshadowed its findings and the Army came to be dominated by the High Tory reorganisation of the War Office Colonial Secretary Edit 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 because of his efforts After being dropped from the next government by the next Prime Minister Asquith Elgin retired from public life in 1908 6 Honours EditLord Elgin was appointed Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India GCSI and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire GCIE on his appointment as Viceroy in 1894 He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Garter KG on his return to the United Kingdom in 1899 In July 1902 he received the freedom of the city of St Andrews in recognition of his devotion to the public service whether holding the exalted position of Viceroy of India where he watched over the interests of a vast Empire with remarkable skill prudence and success or discharging the duties connected with county government and giving his time and wide experience as Chairman of the Carnegie Trust for the advancement of education in Scotland 7 Family Edit nbsp Constance Countess of Elgin 1876 daughter of Sir James Carnegie 9th Earl of Southesk nbsp The Earl of Elgin at his private estate in Scotland 1889 Lord Elgin married Lady Constance Mary daughter of James Carnegie 9th Earl of Southesk in 1876 They had six sons and five daughters Lady Elizabeth Mary Bruce 11 September 1877 13 May 1944 Lady Christina Augusta Bruce 25 January 1879 12 September 1940 Lady Constance Veronica Bruce 24 February 1880 7 July 1969 Edward James Bruce 10th Earl of Elgin 14th Earl of Kincardine 9 June 1881 27 November 1968 Hon Robert Bruce 18 November 1882 31 October 1959 Hon Alexander Bruce 29 July 1884 October 1917 Lady Marjorie Bruce 12 December 1885 23 May 1901 Colonel Hon David Bruce 11 June 1888 26 August 1964 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 After Lady Elgin s death in 1909 he married Gertrude Lilian daughter of William Sherbrooke and widow of Frederick Charles Ashley Ogilvy in 1913 They had one posthumous son Hon Bernard Bruce 12 June 1917 17 June 1983 Death EditLord Elgin died at the family estate in Dunfermline in January 1917 at 67 He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son from his first marriage Edward His widow Gertrude later remarried and died in February 1971 Kincardine whisky EditKincardine whisky was released in November 2016 by Fusion Whisky Ltd in partnership with independent bottler and distillery Adelphi 8 It was made to honour his achievements particularly his time in India when he served as Viceroy and Governor Consul It featured photography from the Bruce family s archive The Kincardine was a blend or fusion of seven year old India single malt whisky from Amrut distillery in Bangalore and mature single malt Scotch whisky from Glen Elgin and Macallan distilleries in Speyside Only 800 bottles were produced with a price of about 135 and ABV of 52 9 It was the fourth international blend from Fusion Whisky and followed from the highly acclaimed Glover whiskies 9 Adelphi s Alex Bruce is the great grandson of Victor Bruce See also EditFamine in IndiaReferences Edit a b Victor Bruce 9th Earl of Elgin Encyclopaedia Britannica a b Davis Mike Late Victorian Holocausts 1 Verso 2000 ISBN 1 85984 739 0 pg 158 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Elgin and Kincardine Earls of Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 9 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 268 No 27419 The London Gazette 25 March 1902 p 2081 Reid 2006 p107 8 112 Elizabeth Lane Furdell 1996 Bruce Victor Alexander In James Stuart Olson Robert Shadle ed Historical Dictionary of the British Empire A J Greenwood Press pp 204 205 ISBN 0 313 29366 X The Freedom of St Andrews The Times No 36824 London 19 July 1902 p 14 Scotch Indian whisky hybrid launches www scotchwhisky com 8 November 2016 The Glover 18 year old www malt review com 25 August 2016 Further reading EditElgin Papers India Office Records British Library Queen Victoria Journals Queen Victoria Our Life in the Highlands Hyam Ronald Elgin and Churchill at the Colonial Office 1905 1908 The Watershed of the Empire Commonwealth Macmillan amp Co London 1968 Bence Jones Mark The Viceroys of India Constable London 1982 Reid Walter 2006 Architect of Victory Douglas Haig Birlinn Ltd Edinburgh 2006 ISBN 1 84158 517 3 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victor Bruce 9th Earl of Elgin Hansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Elgin Kidd Charles ed 1903 Debrett s peerage baronetage knightage and companionage London Dean and son p 352 Political officesPreceded byViscount Folkestone Treasurer of the Household1886 Succeeded byViscount FolkestonePreceded byAlbert Morley First Commissioner of Works1886 Succeeded byDavid PlunkettPreceded byAlfred Lyttelton Secretary of State for the Colonies1905 1908 Succeeded byThe Earl of CreweGovernment officesPreceded byThe Marquess of Lansdowne Viceroy of India1894 1899 Succeeded byThe Lord Curzon of KedlestonHonorary titlesPreceded bySir Robert Anstruther Lord Lieutenant of Fife1886 1917 Succeeded bySir William RobertsonPeerage of ScotlandPreceded byJames Bruce Earl of ElginEarl of Kincardine1863 1917 Succeeded byEdward James Bruce Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Victor Bruce 9th Earl of Elgin amp oldid 1171330181, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
