Robert Randolph Bruce
Encyclopedia
Robert Randolph Bruce was an engineer, mining proprietor and the 13th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
from 1926 to 1931.
Bruce was born in Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow
where he studied engineering. He emigrated to the United States in 1887 before arriving in Canada to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway
. In 1897 he settled in British Columbia
to become a prospector. Bruce and his partner established a lead and silver mine near Windermere Lake in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. He purchased land from the railway and promoted it in England for settlement.
Bruce became the province's lieutenant-governor in 1926. Unusually for former vice-roys, he attempted to enter politics following his tenure as the Queen's representative and stood for the Liberal Party of Canada
in the 1935 federal election
but was narrowly defeated by Henry Herbert Stevens
in the riding of Kootenay East
. The government of William Lyon Mackenzie King
appointed Bruce as Canada's second envoy to Japan
with the title of Minister Plenipotentiary in 1936. He served for two years before retiring to Montreal
.
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
from 1926 to 1931.
Bruce was born in Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
where he studied engineering. He emigrated to the United States in 1887 before arriving in Canada to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. In 1897 he settled in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to become a prospector. Bruce and his partner established a lead and silver mine near Windermere Lake in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. He purchased land from the railway and promoted it in England for settlement.
Bruce became the province's lieutenant-governor in 1926. Unusually for former vice-roys, he attempted to enter politics following his tenure as the Queen's representative and stood for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in the 1935 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
but was narrowly defeated by Henry Herbert Stevens
Henry Herbert Stevens
Henry Herbert Stevens, PC was a Canadian politician and businessman. A member of R.B. Bennett's cabinet, he split with the Conservative Prime Minister to found the Reconstruction Party of Canada.-Early life:...
in the riding of Kootenay East
Kootenay East
Kootenay East was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1968 and from 1979 to 1997....
. The government of William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
appointed Bruce as Canada's second envoy to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with the title of Minister Plenipotentiary in 1936. He served for two years before retiring to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.