Christie, Alexander James

Born on 14 October 1787 in the parish of Fyvie, Aberdeen, Scotland, Alexander James Christie came to Canada in 1817 [Bush 1976]. He began practising medicine in Bytown in 1826, and also served as secretary of the Board of health, but his medical qualifications were called into question. In 1830, he served as Bytown’s first coroner [Mika 1982, Moffatt 1986]. He was an able editor, and started the Bytown Gazette and Ottawa and Rideau Advertiser in June 1836 [Haig 1975]. He also served as township clerk and clerk of the court [IHACC]. His residence was located in Upper Bytown. He died in Bytown in 1843 [Small 1903]. It was his son Alexander who built the suspension bridge at the Chaudière falls [Wilson 1876].