David Bruce (July 1816 – 25 February 1903) was a Scottish master mariner, remembered as skipper of the well-known clipper ships ''Irene'', ''City of Adelaide'' and ''South Australian''.
History
Captain Bruce made his first of many trips to South Australia as captain of the clipper ship ''Irene'' in 1855, then took command of the clipper ''
City of Adelaide'' for her first voyage to Adelaide in 1864. He was a keen rival of Captain
John Legoe
John Legoe (c. 1824 – 24 March 1895) was a ship's captain, associated with the sailing ships ''Celestial'', '' The Murray'', '' Yatala'' and ''Hesperus'', before settling in South Australia, where he and his family were notable citizens.
Histor ...
and his clipper ''
Yatala'', both being primarily engaged in the wool trade, but with accommodation for passengers in some style and comfort, and quite speedy to boot. His last command of the "''City''" was notable for the race between these two from
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a port-side region of Adelaide, approximately northwest of the Adelaide CBD. It is also the namesake of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield council, a suburb, a federal and state electoral division and is the main port for the ...
to London, narrowly won by ''Yatala.''
After making several voyages in the ''City of Adelaide'', Captain Bruce in 1868 brought out the ''
South Australian'', of which he was part owner. His elder son John Bruce succeeded him as master of ''City of Adelaide'', and the younger, Alexander Bruce, succeeded him as master of ''South Australian''.
Family
David Bruce married Janet McIntyre ( – ). Their ten children included two ship's captains:
*John Bruce (9 October 1839 – 17 August 1915) born in
Perth, Scotland
Perth (Scottish English, locally: ; gd, Peairt ) is a city in central Scotland, on the banks of the River Tay. It is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire. It had a population o ...
, he married Ada Eleanor Angas (1 June 1853 – 1931), second daughter of
George Fife Angas, on 28 November 1874. He became harbourmaster of the Tyne, retired in 1912 to
Hallgarth, Tasmania.
*Alexander Bruce (19 June 1848 – 3 September 1891) born in Perth, Scotland, he married Jane Buik (2 December 1856 – 19 August 1925), second daughter of
W. C. Buik
William Christie Buik (13 May 1824 – 6 February 1903), commonly referred to as W. C. Buik, was Mayor of Adelaide 1878–1879.
Early years
Buik was born on 13 May 1824 in Dundee, Scotland a son of Andrew Buik and Elizabeth (or Elspeth) Buik n ...
on 29 November 1876. They had four children.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruce, David
1816 births
1903 deaths
Australian sailors