Alexander Christie
Encyclopedia
Alexander Christie was a fur trader and was Governor
of the Red River Settlement from 1833 to 1839 and from 1844 to 1846. He was considered one of the most influential chief factors in the Hudson's Bay Company
(HBC) during his career, and in recognition of his services was granted a half share in the company’s profits for two years beyond the normal retirement period.
Christie was reputedly born in Glasgow
, Scotland
. He joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1809, working in the lumber trade in Moose Factory. He left for Britain
briefly in 1810, but returned in 1811 and established a sawmill. In 1817, now headquartered at Rupert's House
, he was placed in charge of the Eastmain
region. In 1821 he was a chief factor
. He went on furlough
in 1824. He was placed in charge of Moose Factory from 1826 to 1830, and then York Factory from 1830 to 1833. He was then appointed Governor of the Red River Settlement and the Assiniboia District until 1839. During this term he supervised the building of Lower Fort Garry
, which had begun a few years before his appointment in 1831. He also began construction of Upper Fort Garry. Between 1839 and 1844 he was again on furlough, in England and at Moose Factory. From 1844 to 1848 he was involved in attempting to enforce the HBC fur-trading monopoly. However, because he lacked a military force, his results were unsuccessful.
Christie's marriage to Anne Thomas, daughter of Thomas Thomas, Sr., was confirmed by the Church of England
on February 10, 1835. Two of Christie’s sons, Alexander and William Joseph, and a grandson, Alexander, entered the Hudson's Bay Company's service. His son-in-law, John Black
was a chief trader at Red River. He died in Edinburgh
, Scotland
in 1872.
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Red River Settlement from 1833 to 1839 and from 1844 to 1846. He was considered one of the most influential chief factors in the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
(HBC) during his career, and in recognition of his services was granted a half share in the company’s profits for two years beyond the normal retirement period.
Christie was reputedly born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1809, working in the lumber trade in Moose Factory. He left for Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
briefly in 1810, but returned in 1811 and established a sawmill. In 1817, now headquartered at Rupert's House
Waskaganish, Quebec
Waskaganish is a Cree village of about 2000 people at the mouth of the Rupert River on the south-east shore of James Bay in the Eeyou Istchee territory in Northern Quebec, Canada...
, he was placed in charge of the Eastmain
Eastmain, Quebec
Eastmain is a Cree community located on James Bay at the mouth of the Eastmain River, Quebec, Canada. It is the smallest of the coastal Cree villages with a population of 606 people...
region. In 1821 he was a chief factor
Factor (agent)
A factor, from the Latin "he who does" , is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, historically with his seat at a factory , notably in the following contexts:-Mercantile factor:In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy,...
. He went on furlough
Furlough
In the United States a furlough is a temporary unpaid leave of some employees due to special needs of a company, which may be due to economic conditions at the specific employer or in the economy as a whole...
in 1824. He was placed in charge of Moose Factory from 1826 to 1830, and then York Factory from 1830 to 1833. He was then appointed Governor of the Red River Settlement and the Assiniboia District until 1839. During this term he supervised the building of Lower Fort Garry
Lower Fort Garry
Lower Fort Garry was built in 1830 by the Hudson's Bay Company on the western bank of the Red River, north of the original Fort Garry, which is now in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Treaty 1 was signed there....
, which had begun a few years before his appointment in 1831. He also began construction of Upper Fort Garry. Between 1839 and 1844 he was again on furlough, in England and at Moose Factory. From 1844 to 1848 he was involved in attempting to enforce the HBC fur-trading monopoly. However, because he lacked a military force, his results were unsuccessful.
Christie's marriage to Anne Thomas, daughter of Thomas Thomas, Sr., was confirmed by the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
on February 10, 1835. Two of Christie’s sons, Alexander and William Joseph, and a grandson, Alexander, entered the Hudson's Bay Company's service. His son-in-law, John Black
John Black (1817–79)
John Black was born and educated in Scotland and came to Canada in 1839Black's early life was not well documented. We do know that he worked for about seven years in a solicitor's office before being appointed clerk to the General Quarterly Court of Assiniboia. He had duties as deputy to the...
was a chief trader at Red River. He died in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1872.