William Mellis Christie

William Mellis Christie, biscuit manufacturer (b at Huntley, Aberdeenshire, Scot 5 Jan 1829; d at Toronto 14 June 1900). He apprenticed as a baker in Scotland, and at age 19 immigrated to Canada. In 1848 he began working as a baker's assistant in Toronto and by 1853 had become co-owner of a city bakery. Christie began to acquire a reputation for biscuits after winning a local prize in 1858. In 1868 he joined with Alexander Brown to produce biscuits mechanically for shipment across Canada. Christie, Brown and Co expanded rapidly and in 1879 Christie bought out his partner while retaining the firm's name. The operation was incorporated as a joint stock company in 1899, with Christie holding all shares, worth $500 000. Apart from much time given his Toronto factory, Christie was an inveterate traveller, having visited most of Europe, Britain and North America in his later years. He died at his Toronto mansion after a short bout with cancer. The family sold the company to a US-based firm in the 1920s, which retained the name and continues to sell Christie biscuits.

Author DEAN BEEBY