James Bruce

Who was James Bruce?

James Bruce was a 15th-century cleric who was bishop of Dunkeld, Chancellor of Scotland, and bishop of Glasgow. He was the son of one Robert Bruce, a middling landowner in Clackmannanshire. He was rector of Kilmany, and Archdeacon of Dunkeld. In 1441, on the death of Alexander de Lawedre, bishop-elect of Dunkeld, James Bruce was elected as bishop. He was consecrated at Dunfermline on 4 February 1442. He celebrated his first festive mass on the feast of St. Adomnán, i.e. 23 September. His rule in Dunkeld came to an end when, on 3 February 1447, he was translated to the bishopric of Glasgow. His time as bishop of Glasgow was, however, short. He died in Edinburgh in 1447, probably at the end of the summer. He was buried in St Mary's chapel, Dunfermline.