Bruce Yakov Vilimovich (1670-1735), Russian field Marshal, associate of Peter the Great He participated in the Crimean campaigns of 1687, 1689, and the Azov campaigns of 1695-1696. In the Northern War, he led the Russian artillery, distinguished himself at the capture of Narva, in the battle of Lesnaya, in the Battle of Poltava. He reorganized and re-equipped Russian artillery units, participated in the drafting of the Military Charter of 1716. Since 1717, he was a senator and president of the Berg-i Manufactories, a collegium in charge of Russian industry.

Yakov Vilimovich Bruce was born in Russia, but came from an ancient noble Scottish family. Among his ancestors were Kings Robert and David, who reigned in Scotland as early as the beginning of the XIV century. Bruce's father had come to Russia in Cromwell's time, rising to the rank of colonel. He died when young Yakov was eleven years old. Left an orphan, as the biographer testifies, " Bruce diligently studied, wanting to be useful to the new Fatherland." He began to learn military science in 1683, when he was enrolled in Peter's "funny troops". In 1687 and 1689, already with the rank of ensign under the banner of Golitsyn, he participated in two campaigns in the Crimea, and for bravery in the capture of Azov, he was awarded the rank of colonel. Peter, who loved Bruce and highly appreciated his intelligence and ingenuity, took him with him on a trip to England and Holland, where the future Russian Field Marshal "successfully performed various tasks assigned to him."

It is known what role Peter I assigned to artillery in the Russian regular army he created. The bombardment company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment was perhaps the most privileged part of the Russian army. But the initial stage of the Northern War clearly showed how much Russian artillery is inferior to Swedish. Drastic steps were needed, and Peter gives the Russian artillery "to the care of Major General Jacob Bruce."

Yakov Vilimovich eagerly set to work. First, he unifies all the guns available in the Russian army: instead of the "great variety of guns" that took place, he introduces a clear classification. From now on, all the artillery of the Russian army is divided into cannons, howitzers and mortars. Bruce personally approves the drawings of new guns and sends them to the factories with strict instructions "to make barrels and carriages only according to these drawings." Bruce is credited with developing a single artillery scale and artillery weight, a single system for measuring gun barrels, which was based on a caliber equal to one artillery pound. Yakov Vilimovich also did a lot to introduce a new organizational and staff structure of artillery units.

Bruce's efforts were not in vain. During the capture of Noteburg and Nienschanz, the Russian artillery showed increased skill and technical equipment. Thanks to the energetic actions of Yakov Vilimovich and the tireless care of Peter, already in the first quarter of the XVIII century. in Russia, a well-equipped, mobile and maneuverable artillery of the regular army was practically created.

After the successful storming of Nienschanz in 1703, Bruce was granted "chief commander of all artillery" by decree of Peter I. Since then, all the successes of the Russian "bombers" have always been associated with the name of Bruce. He commanded artillery during the conquest of Narva and Ivan Gorod, in the campaign in Poland in 1705. In 1708, Bruce, with the rank of lieutenant general, led the left wing of the Russian army in the battle of Lesnaya. In the Battle of Poltava, Peter I placed all the Russian artillery under his command, and Yakov Vilimovich "acted bravely and energetically", for which he received the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called from the hands of the tsar.

In 1712, Bruce, already with the rank of Field Chief General, participated in the Pomeranian and Holstein campaigns, "leading not only the Russian, but also the allied Danish and Saxon artillery." Six years later, the tsar granted Bruce president of the Berg and Manufactory College and senator, assigning him responsibility for the development of industry in Russia.

The advantages of J. W. Bruce were not limited to the administrative and military areas. During the negotiations with the Swedes in 1721, he showed remarkable talent as a diplomat. Taking care of the benefits of his new homeland, Bruce, when concluding a peace treaty with the Swedes, managed to defend Livonia, Estonia, Ingermanland, part of Karelia with the Vyborg district and many cities occupied by the Russian army during the war. He even managed to convince the Swedes to transfer Vyborg to Russia, which Peter I agreed to cede to Sweden. "The treatise (i.e., the treaty) you have concluded," the grateful king wrote to Bruce, " is so skilfully drawn up that I myself could not have written it better for the signature of the Swedish gentlemen. This glorious deed of yours will always remain unforgettable in the world; our Russia has never received such a useful peace..."

This Scotsman also played an important role in the development of Russian science, culture and education. According to Bruce's project, in 1701, the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences was opened in the chambers of the Sretenskaya Tower (renamed Sukharevskaya in the 30s of the XVIII century)-the first higher secular special educational institution in Russia that trained navigators, surveyors and engineers. Bruce "thanks to his bright and sharp mind" had not only" excellent knowledge in the physical and mathematical sciences", but also a brilliant command of several European languages, Peter, knowing this, repeatedly commissioned Bruce to translate serious"scientific treatises useful for Russians" into Russian. Yakov Vilimovich spent a lot of time compiling a detailed "geography of the Russian Empire with the addition of land maps". Bruce's scientific office, according to contemporaries, consisted of such a large and diverse number of " mechanical, astronomical, physical machines and tools, stones, ores, ancient medals, coins and other rarities "that"it was considered the first in Russia."

Bruce was particularly interested in astronomy and astrology. The "centennial Bruce calendar" compiled by him is quite accurate and contains numerous astrological forecasts. Published in Moscow in 1709, it is of scientific interest to this day. In 1708, Bruce prepared for publication the first secular (before it, almost all books in Russia were ecclesiastical) "Geometria Slavenski Zemlemeria, or On the transformation of flat figures into other ones of the same content", and in 1717, he published the book "An Honest Mirror of Youth, or an Indication to everyday life...", which became the first book to be published. a reference book for many young Russian nobles for a long time.

Bruce was a well-educated man who valued art, especially painting. He collected a large art gallery from all over Europe. Among the paintings of Flemish, Dutch and English painters with still lifes and genre scenes, a special collection of portraits of Russian and European state and historical figures stood out. Tsar Peter highly valued Bruce's knowledge of art history and repeatedly resorted to his help. In 1711, during the tsar's trip with Catherine to Karlsbad, Bruce accompanied them, explaining "that he is a learned man, skilled and knowing taste in things and in people."

With the death of Peter I, the useful and multifaceted activities for the benefit of the Fatherland of this " intrepid warrior and the most skilful minister of his time "(as the historian D. Bantysh-Kamensky called Bruce) were interrupted. Being a "non-voluptuous and noble man", he could not look indifferently at the intrigues and intrigues of the nobles, the unbridled behavior of Menshikov and retired from business. Empress Catherine awarded Bruce the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and, as a sign of special appreciation for "his military and state services", granted Peter's associate the rank of Field Marshal General upon his dismissal.

Yakov Vilimovich spent his last years in the village of Glinka near Moscow, studying science and experimenting, sometimes coming to Moscow to visit his favorite brainchild - the "Navigation School" and the observatory located in the Sukharevskaya Tower. Count of the Russian Empire Yakov Vilimovich Bruce died in April 1735, bequeathing his extensive library to the Imperial Academy "for the benefit of the public". His death, in the words of the historian, "saddened many," because "he was accessible to everyone, loved to do good without vanity, helped the poor and used his strength for feats." Exploits in the name and glory of Russia.

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