Background
Born Thomas Brudenell, he was the youngest son of George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan and Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of Thomas Bruce, 3rd Earl of Elgin.
Born Thomas Brudenell, he was the youngest son of George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan and Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of Thomas Bruce, 3rd Earl of Elgin.
He was educated at Winchester College.
He was the younger brother of George Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu, James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan and the Honourable Robert Brudenell. In 1767 he assumed by Royal licence the additional surname of Bruce. Lord Bruce served as a Lord of the Bedchamber to King George III, and was briefly in May 1776 Governor to the Prince of Wales and Prince Frederick.
In June 1776 he was created Earl of Ailesbury, in the County of Buckingham, a revival of the earldom which had become extinct on his uncle"s death.
He subsequently served as Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire from 1780 to 1782, as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Charlotte from 1780 to 1792 and as Treasurer to Queen Charlotte from 1792 to 1814. On 29 November 1786 he was made a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.
Lord Ailesbury married firstly, Susanna Hoare, daughter of the banker Henry Hoare and widow of Viscount Dungarvan, on 17 February 1761. They had five children: Lady Caroline Anne Brudenell-Bruce (d 1824), died unmarried.
George Brudenell-Bruce, Lord Bruce (1762–1783), died unmarried.
Lady Frances Elizabeth Brudenell-Bruce (1765–1836), married Sir Henry Wright-Wilson, Member of Parliament for Street Albans. Honorary Charles Brudenell-Bruce (1767–1768), died in infancy. Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury (1773–1856).
Susanna, Countess of Ailesbury, died on 4 February 1783.
There were no children from this marriage. She died on 8 January 1813.
Lord Ailesbury died at Seamore Place, Mayfair, London, in April 1814, aged eighty-four. He was succeeded in the earldom by his third but only surviving son, Charles, who was created Marquess of Ailesbury in 1821.
= Manuscripts.