Thomas Charles Bruce, born  February 15,  1825 (died  November 23 1890) was a British barrister and a Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1885. Bruce was the youngest son of the Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, and his wife Elizabeth Oswald, daughter of James Townsend Oswald MP of Dunnikeire.

 

Thomas was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge and graduated B.A. and 24th Wrangler in 1850. Thomas was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1854. In 1860 he was appointed Captain-Commandant of the 32nd Middlesex Rifle Volunteers.

 

During the 1859 general election Bruce stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in Portsmouth. He stood again at the 1874 general election, and won the seat, holding it until his defeat at the 1885 general election.

 

Thomas married Sarah Caroline Thornhill, daughter of Sir Thomas Thornhill, 1st Baronet of Riddlesworth Hall, Norfolk in 1863.

 

The main photo above is of a sketch of Thomas from Vanity Fair, 1882.

 

The secondary photo is of a telegram sent to Thomas from H.R.H. Queen Victoria.