John Bruce (British Army officer) facts for kids
John Bruce (born July 25, 1808 – died November 5, 1870) was an important British Army officer. He also served as a temporary leader, known as the Acting Governor, of Western Australia.
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John Bruce: A British Army Officer
Early Life and Education
John Bruce was born in Athlone, Ireland. His parents were from Scotland. He received private lessons and later attended the Sandhurst Military College in England. This college is a special school for training army officers.
Military Career
On July 31, 1828, John Bruce became a junior officer, called an ensign, in the 16th Regiment. This regiment is also known as the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. He joined his regiment in Bengal, a region in India.
In the early 1840s, he moved to the 18th Regiment of Foot. With this new regiment, he served in China.
Serving in Western Australia
Later, John Bruce traveled to Western Australia with his regiment. He stayed there for twenty years. During this time, he held important military roles. He was the Staff-officer of Pensioners, which meant he was in charge of military matters for retired soldiers. He was also the Commandant of Western Australia, making him the top military officer in the area.
John Bruce served as the Acting Governor of the colony twice. The first time was in February 1862. The second time was from November 1868 to September 1869. He stepped in as Acting Governor when the main Governor, John Hampton, left and before the new Governor, Frederick Weld, arrived.
Legacy
John Bruce passed away on November 5, 1870, when he was sixty-two years old. He had seven children and was survived by his wife. A mountain in Western Australia, called Mount Bruce, is named after him. It is located in the Hamersley Range.
