John Christie (mayor)

John Christie born 26 August 1883 in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland was leader of the South African Labour Party from 1946 to 1953.

The eldest of 8 children he served his apprenticeship as a chemist with Dr. James Duncan in Causeyside, Paisley, Scotland. He went to South Africa in 1901 as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second Boer War. In 1902 he settled in Johannesburg where he qualified in his profession.

Entering public life in 1915, John became a Labour member of the Johannesburg City Council and continued until 1923. He was elected Mayor of Johannesburg in 1920-1921. He was Chairman of the Public Health Committee and of the Finance Committee. He became the M.P. for Langlaagte, a position he held between 1921 and 1923. Later, he became the M.P. for Rosettenville (1936–1938), and in 1943 he won the seat for South Rand and became party leader in 1946.

Professionally, he became a successful business man and, together with his brother George, they owned several retail Chemist stores. John was the leader in establishing the South African Pharmacy Board and became the first President when it was constituted in 1929. He held that office for nearly 20-years. In 1931 he was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society, London.

He was a member of the Masonic Gordon Lodge in Fordsburg, Gauteng.

John Christie died in Johannesburg on 10 April 1953. He was given a Civic Funeral.