Born in Lower Grosvenor Street, London, Bruce was the oldest son of Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury, and his first wife the Hon.

[1] In 1856, he succeeded to his father's titles[1] and, in 1868, to those of his distant cousin James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan.

Bruce entered the British House of Commons in 1826, representing Marlborough as Member of Parliament (MP) until 1829.

[2] In 1838, he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's subsidiary title Baron Bruce.

The Marchioness of Ailesbury died at 78 Pall Mall, London, in January 1892, aged 78.