Thomas Davidson Christie (21 January 1843 – 25 May 1921) was an Irish-American Civil War veteran, and a missionary and educator in the Ottoman Empire from 1877 to 1920.
He was born in Sion Mills, County Tyrone, Ireland, the son of James and Eliza (Reid) Christie.
[1] James Christie, Thomas's father, left Dundee Scotland to work in the flax mills of Ireland.
During the winter season they worked in Cuba, operating machines designed by Dudley Pray of Boston, that were used in the sugar cane fields.
[1] In October 1861, Thomas and William enlisted at Fort Snelling MN in the 1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery.
He married in March 1872 and returned to Beloit College in Sept 1872 to teach and to complete work on his master's degree, which he received in 1874.
[2] [2] The Christies provided refuge, relief and assistance to many Armenian and Turkish people in times of trouble and peace.
He arrived in April 1919 to a "royal reception", of friends of all classes and religions, French and Turkish officials and students.
[1] Thomas and Carmelite are buried in the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission's plot in the Walnut Street Cemetery, Newton Massachusetts.