James Christie

Auctioneer, born in London, UK. He founded the well-known London auctioneering firm in 1766. Two of his sons were James (1773–1831), antiquary and auctioneer, and Samuel Hunter (1784–1865), student of magnetism and professor of mathematics at Woolwich (1806–50). Samuel's son, Sir William Henry Mahoney (1845–1922), was astronomer royal (1881–1910).

His father, also named James Christie, was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate in 1914 provincial election.

Christie was educated in Glenboro, and worked as a farmer.

He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1932 provincial election, defeating incumbent Conservative William H. In the 1936 election, he was re-elected over Conservative candidate R.G. Christie again defeated Hurton, who was by this time an independent candidate, in the 1941 provincial election.

Christie's re-election in the 1945 provincial election occurred under unusual circumstances. During this period, the Liberal-Progressive Party was the dominant power in a coalition government which also included the Progressive Conservative Party, Social Credit and some independents. At a nomination meeting to determine the governing coalition's candidate, Christie unexpectly lost to independent Robin Parsons by one vote. He challenged the validity of the result, however, and entered the general election as a candidate against Parsons.

He was re-elected again in the 1949 provincial election, and was still a member of the legislature when he died in January 1953.

Christie served as Whip of the Liberal-Progressive party for thirteen years. He was appointed chair of the standing committee on municipal affairs in 1949, and headed the provincial committee on agriculture and immigration from 1949 to 1952.