John Bruce (4)

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

John Bruce junior of Sumburgh, most commonly reffered to as John Bruce the Younger, (June 9th. 1837- July 4th. 1907) was a landlord and merchant who lived at Sandlodge in Sandwick. He was a bitter opponent of the crofting legislation of the 1880s, and unsuccessfully pursued the captors of the whales in the Hoswick whale case of 1888-1890.
He was also the owner of the smack Columbine, which drifted to Norway with only Betty Mouat onboard.

Bruce was elected the member for Dunrossness South on Zetland County Council at its inception in 1890. He was then elected to the position of convener of the County, the first person to hold the role, which he retained until his death in 1907.

Bruce purchased Lunna House, the Hunter of Lunna family estate from Robert Hunter Bell in May 1893 for the sum of £9740.00.

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