Lawrence Bruce
British wrestler
About Lawrence Bruce
Lived 1875 – 1958 (aged 82). Lawrence Bruce was a wrestler.
Louis Bruce (17 December 1875 – 31 March 1958) was a British wrestler and one of the first Black London tram drivers. He competed in the men's freestyle heavyweight at the 1908 Summer Olympics, the first Black British Olympian.
Early life Bruce was born Louis Bruce McAvoy Mortimore Doney, in Paradise Cottage in Morningside, Edinburgh in 1875, to widow Jane Elizabeth Doney (née Mortimore). He had six older sisters. His father was not named on his birth certificate.
Prior to research undertaken in December 2021, he was recorded under the name "Lawrence Bruce".
Tram career Bruce also appears on the London Underground map of Black history produced by the London Transport Museum. He got his licence to drive trams in 1900 and appears to have driven until at least 1922.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Lawrence Bruce's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Lawrence Bruce?
British wrestler
When was Lawrence Bruce born?
Lawrence Bruce was born on 17 December 1875 in Edinburgh.
When did Lawrence Bruce die?
Lawrence Bruce died on 31 March 1958.
What was Lawrence Bruce's occupation?
Lawrence Bruce was a wrestler.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lawrence Bruce. https://biography.guide/lawrence-bruce/
MLA: "Lawrence Bruce." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lawrence-bruce/.
Chicago: "Lawrence Bruce." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lawrence-bruce/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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