Career
In 1799, on the instructions of King George III, and with the title of "Gouvernante", Lady Elgin was appointed to superintend Princess Charlotte of Wales, only child of the Prince of Wales and already seen as the probable next heir to the throne, with whom she became very close. They lived together in a household otherwise consisting entirely of servants at Warwick House in the Street James"s district of Westminster, described as "a rather gloomy edifice near Carlton House". According to Burke"s Peerage, The Countess of Elgin filled, with great cr to herself, the important station of governess to her royal highness the deeply-deplored Princess Charlotte of Wales.
An obituary of Princess Charlotte in 1818 described Elgin as "a very worthy and pious Countess who acted for some years as Gouvernante".
This title has sometimes been translated as "guardian" rather than "governess". Elgin"s own obituary in The Gentleman"s Magazine said of her, "At Twickenham, in her 69th year, the Right honorary
Martha Bruce, Countess of Elgin and Kincardine. Whose life has been spent in the uniform exercise of piety and benevolence.
Her public and private charities were unbounded." However, The Complete Peerage says she died in her 71st year.
She was buried at Street Mary"s, Twickenham.