Youth
James Bruce was born at the family seat of Kinnaird, Stirlingshire, and educated at Harrow School and Edinburgh University, and began to study for the bar; but his marriage to the daughter of a wine merchant resulted in him entering that business. His wife died in October 1754, within nine months of marriage, and Bruce thereafter travelled in Portugal and Spain. The examination of oriental manuscripts at the Escurial led him to the study of Arabic and Ge'ez and determined his future career. In 1758 his father's death placed him in possession of the estate of Kinnaird.
Read more about this topic: James Bruce
Famous quotes containing the word youth:
“Genius goes around the world in its youth incessantly apologizing for having large feet. What wonder that later in life it should be inclined to raise those feet too swiftly to fools and bores.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (18961940)
“I loathe that I did love,
In youth that I thought sweet;”
—Thomas Vaux, 2d Baron Vaux Of Harrowden (15101566)
“He was indeed the glass
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.”
—William Shakespeare (15641616)