VICTOR ALEXANDER BRUCE, 9th earl of Elgin (1849-1917), British statesman, was born on May 16, 1849, the son of the 8th earl. A Liberal in politics, he became first commissioner of works (1886), and subsequently viceroy of India (1894-99) . His ad ministration in India was chiefly notable for the frontier risings of 1897-98. The Afridis broke out into a fanatical revolt and through hesitation on the part of the Government were allowed to seize the Khyber pass, necessitating the Tirah expedition. After his return to England he was nominated chairman of the royal commission to investigate the conduct of the South African War; and on the formation of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's ministry in Dec. 1905, he became secretary of State for the colonies. He retired in 1908, and died in 1917.
His son, Edward James Bruce (1881— ), who succeeded him as loth earl, was made chairman of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, and in 1925 was lord high commissioner to the Church of Scotland.