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Robert Bruce Lockhart was born in Anstruther, Fife, on 2nd September, 1887. His father was the headmaster of Spier’s School in Beith. Bruce Lockhart went to school at Fettes College in Edinburgh.

In 1909 Bruce Lockhart went to Malaya to become a rubber planter. However, after developing malaria he returned to London where he joined the civil service and in 1912 was appointed as Vice-Counsul in Moscow. Later he was promoted to Counsul-General and was in Russia during the First World War.

When Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown he reported on 13th March, 1917: "So far the people of Moscow have behaved with exemplary restraint. For the moment, only enthusiasm prevails, and the struggle which is almost bound to ensure between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat has not yet made its bitterness felt. The Socialist Party is at present divided into two groups: the Social Democrats and Soviet Revolutionaries. The activities of the first named are employed almost entirely among the work people, while the Social Revolutionaries work mainly among the peasantry."

Bruce Lockhart attempted to describe the different political groups, such as the Social Democratic Labour Party, Socialist Revolutionary Party, Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and Left Socialist Revolutionarist, that were fighting for power: " The Social Democrats, who are the largest party, are, however, divided into two groups known as the Bolsheviki and the Mensheviki. The Bolsheviki are the more extreme party. They are at heart anti-war. In Moscow at any rate the Mensheviki represent today the majority and are more favourable to the war."

Lockhart was recalled to London just before the Russian Revolution. He gave a briefing to George V: "Saw the King. The King was very nice and showed a surprising grasp of the situation; he however did most of the talking and during the forty minutes I was with him I didn't really get much in. He sees pretty well the need for reforms everywhere, and has a wholesome dread of Bolshevism."

Bruce Lockhart returned to Russia in January, 1918 as Head of Special Mission. Working with the British Intelligence agent, Sidney Reilly, attempts were made to overthrow the Bolshevik government. After Dora Kaplan attempted to assassinate Vladimir Lenin, Lockhart was arrested by the police. He later wrote: "My prison here consists of a small hall, a sitting-room, a diminutive bedroom, a bathroom and a small dressing-room, which I use for my food. The rooms open on both sides on to corridors so that there is no fresh air. I have one sentry one side and two on the other. They are changed every four hours and as each changes, has to come in to see if I am there. This results in my being woken up at twelve and four in the middle of the night."

On 2nd October, 1918, the British government arranged for Lockhart to be exchanged for captive Soviet officials such as Maxim Litvinov. Lockhart and Sidney Reilly were tried and found guilty of espionage and sabotage and were sentenced to be shot if apprehended.

Lockhart worked for the Foreign Office until 1922 when he decided to start a new career in banking. His book, Memoirs of a British Agent, was published in 1932. During the Second World War Lockhart served as Director-General of the Political Warfare Executive.

Robert Bruce Lockhart died on 27th February 1970.

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(1) Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (26th February, 1917)

Revolution in Moscow. Great scenes in front of Duma. Workmen and Socialists take the upper hand and encamp in Duma. Troops all come over. No bloodshed and the crowd on the whole very orderly. No news from Petrograd.

(2) Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (8th March, 1917)

Saw Chelnokov and Oboleshov who has come back from the front. The latter is very pessimistic about the discipline of the army which is the most important thing at the present moment.

(3) Robert Bruce Lockhart, report sent to the British government (13th March, 1917)

So far the people of Moscow have behaved with exemplary restraint. For the moment, only enthusiasm prevails, and the struggle which is almost bound to ensure between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat has not yet made its bitterness felt.

The Socialist Party is at present divided into two groups: the Social Democrats and Soviet Revolutionaries. The activities of the first named are employed almost entirely among the work people, while the Social Revolutionaries work mainly among the peasantry.

The Social Democrats, who are the largest party, are, however, divided into two groups known as the Bolsheviki and the Mensheviki. The Bolsheviki are the more extreme party. They are at heart anti-war. In Moscow at any rate the Mensheviki represent today the majority and are more favourable to the war.

(4) Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (11th March, 1918)

Went down to see Trotsky. He is practically dictator of Petrograd. Had a most interesting talk. He cursed our ignorance bitterly and said we and France were the only people who did not realize what was happening. We were accusing him with false documents of Germanophilism, while his best friends were running him down for having placed too false hopes on a pre-entente policy.

(5) Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (19th April, 1918)

Soviet decree about women having the right to divorce a man and the latter not having the right to refuse. Saw Trotsky - fairly satisfactory but hope is not great. In afternoon had long talk with Chicherin and Karakhan on subject of agreement. Overwhelmed with work. We have no staff, and it is impossible to get through half of what we ought to do.

(6) Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (17th July, 1918)

Order out by Trotsky that no officers belonging to the British or French are allowed to travel on account of their counter-revolutionary tendencies. News that the Emperor had been shot at Ekaterinburg.

(7) After the attempt by Dora Kaplan to assassinate Vladimir Lenin, Robert Bruce Lockhart was arrested and accused of being involved in the plot (9th September, 1918)

My prison here consists of a small hall, a sitting-room, a diminutive bedroom, a bathroom and a small dressing-room, which I use for my food. The rooms open on both sides on to corridors so that there is no fresh air. I have one sentry one side and two on the other. They are changed every four hours and as each changes, has to come in to see if I am there. This results in my being woken up at twelve and four in the middle of the night.

(8) Robert Bruce Lockhart saw George V after his return to England, diary entry (23rd October, 1918)

Saw the King. The King was very nice and showed a surprising grasp of the situation; he however did most of the talking and during the forty minutes I was with him I didn't really get much in. He sees pretty well the need for reforms everywhere, and has a wholesome dread of Bolshevism.

(9) Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (25th October, 1918)

After a week at home it is perfectly obvious that apart from the relief of having rescued me from the Bolsheviks the Foreign Office is not the least interested in my account of things. They prefer the reactionaries who have never even seen Bolshevism. Lord Tyrrell (Head of the Political Intelligence Department) and Lord Hardinge (Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office) are frankly and avowedly hostile and I may even have difficulty in obtaining another job.