Bruce was born into a plantation family in Charlotte County, Virginia, and studied literature and history at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1876; he went on to get an LL.B. from Harvard University in 1879.
Bruce was born into a plantation family in Charlotte County, Virginia; his younger brother was William Cabell Bruce, later a US Senator from Maryland. Philip studied literature and history at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1876; he went on to get an LL.B. from Harvard University in 1879.