John Eldridge Bruce (October 1, 1856 – August 17, 1924) was an American lawyer, politician, and civil servant.

[2] After graduating, Bruce worked as a teacher and the principal of a high school in Hudson, Ohio, from 1876 to 1879.

[4] He served one term as a member of the Democratic Party during the 66th Ohio General Assembly,[1][3] In 1885, Bruce was appointed assistant United States Attorney for the southern district of Ohio by President Grover Cleveland.

[1] Bruce was also appointed to be the first assistant United States Attorney during President Cleveland's second term, from 1893 to 1897.

[5] In 1913, Bruce and Herbert S. Bigelow campaigned in favor a new city charter for Cincinnati,[6] but the voters rejected their referendum.

[7] While working at the Associated Press, Bruce met reporter Ban Johnson, and they became friends.

When the National Baseball Commission was formed in the 1903 peace agreement between the AL and NL, Bruce was elected secretary and treasurer.