BRUCE, Charles. Roncally, Bengal 13.10.1836 — Edinburgh 13.12.1920. Sir. British (Scottish) Indologist, then in Colonial Service. Son of Thomas Bruce, of E.I.C., originally from Arnott, Kinross-shire. Educated at Harrow, Yale University (from 1856), and in Germany, a student of Roth at Tübingen (from 1861, concentrating on Sanskrit and Iranian). From 1863 Assistant Librarian at British Museum Library, from 1865-69 also Professor (unpaid) of Sanskrit at the King’s College, London. Assisted Böhtlingk and Roth in their dictionary work (PW). Soon left Indology and entered colonial service: From 1868 Rector of the Royal College in Port Louis, Mauritius. 1878 Director of Public Instruction, Ceylon. 1882 Colonial Secretary, Mauritius. In 1885-93 Lieutenant-Governor of British Guiana. 1893-97 Governor of the Windward Islands in Grenada. 1897-1903 Governor of Mauritius. In retirement politically active, i.al. campaigned for Indian immigrants in other British colonies, especially in South Africa. K.C.M.G. 1889. G.C.M.G. 1901. Married 1868 Clara Lucas (d. 1916), two sons.

Publications: “On the Vedic Conception of the Earth – Atharvaveda XII 1”, JRAS 19, 1862, 321-336.

– Die Geschichte von Nala. Versuch einer Herstellung des Textes. 14+47 p. St. Petersburg 1862.

– Milestones on my long journey, memoirs of a colonial governor. 232 p. Glasgow 1917; several works on colonies, one collection of poems, memoirs.

Sources: Stache-Weiske 2017, 510; Who Was Who 1916-1928; Wikipedia with photo; not in D.N.B.