Jacob Bruce

James Bruce (1669–1735) was a Russian field marshal and scientist of Scottish descent, and one of Peter the Great's ablest lieutenants. He rebuilt the artillery lost at Narva in 1700 and commanded the guns at Poltava in 1709.

One of the most learned men in Russia, he opened its first observatory in 1701, and his library of over fifteen hundred volumes later passed to the Academy of Sciences.

He headed the mining and manufacturing collegiums from 1717 and became one of Russia's first counts in 1721. Muscovites rumoured him a magician.