Laurence Bruce facts for kids

Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie (born January 20, 1547 – died August 1617) was a Scottish landowner. He worked for the Earl of Orkney. Laurence Bruce is part of many old stories from Shetland.

Who Was Laurence Bruce?

Laurence Bruce was the son of John Bruce of Cultmalindie and Euphemia Elphinstone. Cultmalindie is a small village in Perthshire, Scotland.

His family, the Bruces of Cultmalindie, were a smaller part of the famous Bruce family in Scotland. They were descendants of Robert the Bruce, who was King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329. Laurence Bruce was also the half-brother of Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney. Earl Robert was the son of James V, King of Scotland, and Euphemia Elphinstone.

Life in Shetland

Around 1571, Laurence Bruce became the main official, or "foud," for Shetland. A foud was like a local governor. This job meant he collected taxes and rents for the King. By 1573, he was the main foud and sheriff of Shetland. He took over from an older official named Olave Sinclair.

In 1574, as foud, he allowed two English ships to trade in Shetland. However, Earl Robert later captured these ships and their goods.

Laurence Bruce moved to the island of Unst with his nephew, William Bruce, and other armed men. He set up his main home there. Soon, many people in Shetland did not like him. They felt his rules were too strict. People said he changed official weights and measures. This made Earl Robert get more money. His armed men also took over ships and stayed in local homes without permission.

Laurence Bruce had a very large family. He had ten children with his wives, Helen Kennedy and Elizabeth Gray.

The people of Shetland were unhappy with his actions. They sent a message to the royal court in Edinburgh. In response, a special group came to Shetland in 1577. They gathered information from 700 men. Because of this, Laurence Bruce was removed from his job. But by 1578, he was back in Shetland as a sheriff.

Muness Castle

Laurence Bruce is most famous for building Muness Castle. It was finished around 1598. Muness Castle is now a ruin. It is the most northern castle in Great Britain. It was built on the island of Unst, near the town of Uyeasound.

He built the castle after Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney, took over from his father, Earl Robert, in 1593. Laurence Bruce had good reasons to worry about Earl Patrick. In 1608, Earl Patrick sent soldiers to attack the castle. But the attackers gave up. In 1610, Laurence Bruce spoke against Earl Patrick in Edinburgh.

After a rebellion in Orkney in 1614, Laurence Bruce was given a new job. He was asked to find any rebels who might hide in Shetland.

Laurence Bruce passed away at Muness Castle in August 1617. He was buried in the old church at nearby Sandwick. His second son, Andrew Bruce, took over the castle. Andrew was known to be a calmer and more liked person than his father. Laurence Bruce's oldest son, Alexander Bruce, went back to mainland Scotland to manage the family's land there.

Images for kids

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  Laurence Bruce built Muness Castle