Biography of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury 1626-1685

On 4th July 1622 [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin (age 23) and [his mother] Anne Chichester (age 17) were married at Holy Trinity Church, Minories [Map].

Around March 1626 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury was born to Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin (age 27) and Anne Chichester (age 21).

On 20th March 1627 [his mother] Anne Chichester (age 22) died in childbirth. She was buried in the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Exton, Rutlandshire [Map]. In north aisle, a very classical monument for its date, black and white marble table tomb with shrouded effigy.

The inscription: "Anne, Wife to [his father] Lord Bruce, Baron of Kinloss (age 28), Daughter of Sir [his grandfather] Robert Chichester (age 49), Knight of the Bath, of an antient Family in the County of Devon, and of [his grandmother] Frances one of the two Daughters and Coheirs of John Lord Harrington, Baron of Exton, sole heir to her Mother. A Lady endowed with a natural disposition to Vertue, a true understanding of honour, most noble behaviour, perpetual cheerfulness, most elegant Conversation, and a more than ordinary conjugal affction. She was married iv. years and ix. months, and one only child named Robert Bruce. Weakened by that birth she died in Childbirth, the xx.day of March, in the xxii. year of her age, Anno Domini M. DC. XXVII. Erected and inscribed to the memory Of his most beloved, and most deserving Wife, by The Lord Bruce."

The Chichester Family Crest being a Heron with an Eel in its mouth.

Anne Chichester: Around 1605 she was born to Robert Chichester and Frances Harrington. On 4th July 1622 Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin and she were married at Holy Trinity Church, Minories [Map].

On 12th November 1629 [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin (age 30) and [his step-mother] Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin (age 33) were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 63) and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 51).

On 16th February 1645 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 18) and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 15) were married. She the daughter of Henry Grey 1st Earl Stamford (age 46) and Anne Cecil Countess Stamford (age 49). He the son of Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin (age 46) and Anne Chichester. They were fifth cousins.

In 1656 [his son] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 29).

On 31st December 1657 [his daughter] Mary Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 31) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 27).

In 1658 [his daughter] Christian Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 31) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 28).

Around 1660 [his daughter] Anne Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 33) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 30).

On 21st December 1663 [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin (age 64) died. His son Robert (age 37) succeeded 2nd Earl Elgin, 2nd Baron Bruce of Whorlton in Yorkshire. [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 33) by marriage Countess Elgin.

On 18th March 1664 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 38) was created 1st Earl Ailesbury, 1st Viscount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire, 1st Baron Bruce of Skelton in Yorkshire. [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 34) by marriage Countess Ailesbury.

On 29th January 1666 [his son-in-law] Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet (age 19) and [his daughter] Diana Bruce were married. She by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 39) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 36). They were sixth cousins.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 2nd June 1666. In the evening come up the River the Katharine yacht, Captain Fazeby, who hath brought over my Lord of Alesbury (age 40) and Sir Thomas Liddall (with a very pretty daughter (age 7), and in a pretty travelling-dress) from Flanders, who saw the Dutch fleete on Thursday, and ran from them; but from that houre to this hath not heard one gun, nor any newes of any fight. Having put the soldiers on board, I home and wrote what I had to write by the post, and so home to supper and to bed, it being late.

On 10th November 1671 [his son-in-law] John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 33) and [his daughter] Diana Bruce were married. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 45) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 41). He the son of John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland (age 67) and Frances Montagu Countess Rutland. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1672 [his son-in-law] William Rich 2nd Baronet (age 18) and [his daughter] Anne Bruce (age 12) were married. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 45) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 42).

On 15th July 1672 [his daughter] Diana Bruce died in childbirth. The child, named Robert, died the same day.

On 31st August 1676 [his son] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 20) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 21) were married. She the daughter of Henry Seymour and Mary Capell Duchess Beaufort (age 45). He the son of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 50). They were fourth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 9th June 1677 [his son-in-law] John Rolle and [his daughter] Christian Bruce (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 51) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 47). They were half fourth cousins.

After 22nd March 1678 [his son-in-law] William Walter 2nd Baronet (age 43) and [his daughter] Mary Bruce (age 20) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 52) and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 48).

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th November 1682. I was invited to dine with Monsieur Lionberg, the Swedish Resident, who made a magnificent entertainment, it being the birthday of his King. There dined the Duke of Albemarle, Duke of Hamilton (age 47), Earl of Bath (age 54), Earl of Aylesbury (age 56), Lord Arran (age 24), Lord Castlehaven (age 65), the son of him who was executed fifty years before, and several great persons. I was exceedingly afraid of drinking (it being a Dutch feast), but the Duke of Albemarle being that night to wait on his Majesty, excess was prohibited; and, to prevent all, I stole away and left the company as soon as we rose from table.

On 20th October 1685 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 59) died. His son [his son] Thomas (age 29) succeeded 3rd Earl Elgin, 2nd Earl Ailesbury, 2nd Viscount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire, 3rd Baron Bruce of Whorlton in Yorkshire, 2nd Baron Bruce of Skelton in Yorkshire. [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 30) by marriage Countess Elgin, Countess Ailesbury.

On 8th April 1689 [his former wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 59) died.

Before 1st January 1701 Henri Gascar (age 66). Portrait of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury.

[his daughter] Diana Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury.