William Bruce (architect)
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Sir William Bruce (1630-1710) was a Scottish architect.
Born at Blairhall in western Fife, Bruce first came to note when he acted as negotiator between General Monck and the exiled King Charles II, helping to enable the Restoration. He was rewarded by the King with various appointments, including King's Surveyor and Master of Works, in 1671. As the King's builder he was responsible, with the King's Master-mason Robert Mylne, for the major extensions to the palace of Holyrood House in the 1670s. In 1675 he bought the estate of Loch Leven Castle from the Earl of Morton, and built his home Kinross House in the late 1680s. Kinross is one of the earliest Palladian style country houses in Scotland, and Bruce became known as a pioneer of the style. Among his commissions were Hopetoun House in West Lothian, and Thirlestane Castle in the Borders.
He was succeeded as King's Surveyor by James Smith.
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