Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury
Encyclopedia
Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury and 2nd Earl of Elgin, PC
, FRS
(ca. March 1626 – 20 October 1685) was the son of Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin
.
During his father's lifetime, Lord Kinloss, as he was styled, was Member of Parliament
for Bedfordshire
in the Parliament of 1660 and the following Parliament of 1661, until he succeeded to his father's titles in 1663. The following year (18 March 1664) he was created Earl of Ailesbury, Viscount Bruce of Ampthill and Baron Bruce of Skelton for his services in procuring the English Restoration
. He was Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
from 1660 with the Earl of Cleveland
and solely from 1667 to his death. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
and Hampshire
from 1681 to his death.
In October 1678, he was invested as a Privy Counsellor
(PC) and a Gentleman of the Bedchamber
. In 1685, he was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Society
and Lord Chamberlain
on 30 July 1685.
He married Lady Diana Grey, daughter of Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford
, on 16 February 1645. They had seventeen children, nine of which seem to have survived to adulthood:
Lord Ailesbury died in 1685, aged 58 at Houghton House
, just north of Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and was buried on 26 October of that year, at Maulden
. His widow built Ampthill House
nearby in 1686, originally as a dower house
.
Privy Council of England
The Privy Council of England, also known as His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, was a body of advisers to the sovereign of the Kingdom of England...
, FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(ca. March 1626 – 20 October 1685) was the son of Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin
Earl of Elgin
The title Earl of Elgin was created on June 21, 1633 in the Peerage of Scotland for Thomas Bruce, 3rd Lord Kinloss. He was later created Baron Bruce of Whorlton in the Peerage of England on July 30, 1641. His son, Robert, succeeded him, and was also created Earl of Ailesbury in the Peerage of...
.
During his father's lifetime, Lord Kinloss, as he was styled, was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Bedfordshire was a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency, which elected two Members of Parliament from 1295 until 1885, when it was divided into two constituencies under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.-History:...
in the Parliament of 1660 and the following Parliament of 1661, until he succeeded to his father's titles in 1663. The following year (18 March 1664) he was created Earl of Ailesbury, Viscount Bruce of Ampthill and Baron Bruce of Skelton for his services in procuring the English Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
. He was Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. Since 1711, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Bedfordshire.*William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton 1549–1551...
from 1660 with the Earl of Cleveland
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland was a Cavalier general who fought for Charles I during the English Civil War.He was the eldest son of Henry Wentworth, 3rd Baron Wentworth and Anne Hopton. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth, the last Englishman to hold Calais...
and solely from 1667 to his death. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representative in the counties of the United Kingdom. The Lord Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants which he or...
and Hampshire
Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. Since 1688, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Hampshire.*William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester 1551–?*William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester bef...
from 1681 to his death.
In October 1678, he was invested as a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of England
The Privy Council of England, also known as His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, was a body of advisers to the sovereign of the Kingdom of England...
(PC) and a Gentleman of the Bedchamber
Gentleman of the Bedchamber
A Gentleman of the Bedchamber was the holder of an important office in the royal household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain.-Description and functions:...
. In 1685, he was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
on 30 July 1685.
He married Lady Diana Grey, daughter of Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford
Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford
Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford , known as the Lord Grey of Groby from 1614 to 1628, was an English nobleman and military leader. He was the eldest son of Sir John Grey and Elizabeth Nevill...
, on 16 February 1645. They had seventeen children, nine of which seem to have survived to adulthood:
- Hon. Edward Bruce (b. 1644/5, d. 1662).
- Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of AilesburyThomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of AilesburyThomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury and 3rd Earl of Elgin was the son of Robert Bruce, 2nd Earl of Elgin and Lady Diana Grey. His maternal grandparents were Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford and Lady Anne Cecil, daughter of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter...
(b. 1656, d. 16 December 1741). - Hon. Henry Bruce (b. 1656?, d. young).
- Lady Diana Bruce (d. 15 July 1672); married firstly Sir Seymour Shirley, 5th Baronet on 29 January 1666; married secondly John Manners, 1st Duke of RutlandJohn Manners, 1st Duke of RutlandJohn Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland and 9th Earl of Rutland was the son of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland and Frances Montagu. His maternal grandparents were Sir Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton and his wife Elizabeth Jeffries...
on 10 November 1671. - Mary Bruce (b. 31 December 1657, bur. 15 May 1711), married Sir William Walter, 2nd BaronetWalter BaronetsThe Walter Baronetcy, of Saresden in the County of Oxford, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 16 August 1641 for William Walter, previously Member of Parliament for Weobly. The third Baronet sat as Member of Parliament for Appleby and Oxford...
. - Lady Christian (or Christiana) Bruce (2nd Christian?, b. 1658), married firstly John Rolle, son and heir of Sir John Rolle of Stevenstone in St Giles in the Wood, on 4 June 1677 at AmpthillAmpthillAmpthill is a small town and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Luton, with a population of about 6,000. It is administered by Central Bedfordshire Council. A regular market has taken place on Thursdays for centuries.-History:...
; married secondly Sir Richard Gayer (or Geyer or Gere) of Stoke PogesStoke PogesStoke Poges is a village and civil parish in the South Buckinghamshire district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the south of the county, about three miles north of Slough and a mile east of Farnham Common....
. - Lady Anne Bruce (1st Anne, b. ca. 1660, d. before 1717); married Sir William Rich, 2nd Baronet in 1672.
- Hon. Robert Bruce (1st Robert?, d. 1652).
- Hon. Charles Bruce (d. 1661).
- Hon. Bernard (or Barnard) Bruce (b. 1666, d. 1669).
- Arabella Bruce (d. young).
- Anne Charlotte Bruce (2nd Anne, bur. 13 March 1713); married Sir Nicholas Bagnall/Bagenall of NewryNewryNewry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, a grandson of Henry BagenalHenry BagenalSir Henry Bagenal was marshal of the army in Ireland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.-Life:He was the eldest son of Nicholas Bagenal and Eleanor Griffith, daughter of Sir Edward Griffith of Penrhyn...
. - Henrietta Bruce; married Thomas Ogle.
- Hon. Robert Bruce (2nd Robert?, d. 1728).
- Hon. James Bruce (d. 1738).
- Christian Bruce (1st Christian?, d. young).
- Elizabeth Bruce (d. young).
Lord Ailesbury died in 1685, aged 58 at Houghton House
Houghton House
Houghton House is a ruined house located near Houghton Conquest in Bedfordshire, on the ridge just north of Ampthill, and about 8 miles south of Bedford. It is a Grade I listed building....
, just north of Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and was buried on 26 October of that year, at Maulden
Maulden
Maulden is a small village and civil parish located in the county of Bedfordshire, in the administrative area of Central Bedfordshire, in the newly created Maulden And Houghton Conquest Ward. An active Parish Council meets monthly- the clerk is Lynda Galler . The village is located 1.5 miles east...
. His widow built Ampthill House
Ampthill
Ampthill is a small town and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Luton, with a population of about 6,000. It is administered by Central Bedfordshire Council. A regular market has taken place on Thursdays for centuries.-History:...
nearby in 1686, originally as a dower house
Dower house
On an estate, a dower house is usually a moderately large house available for use by the widow of the estate-owner. The widow, often known as the "dowager" usually moves into the dower house from the larger family house on the death of her husband if the heir is married, and upon his marriage if he...
.
External links
- Stirnet: Bruce05 (subscription required to view without interruption; contains the 1st Earl of Ailesbury and numerous close relatives in the Bruce family)
- Website with information about the Ailesbury Mausoleum at Maulden