William Christie
Jackson

DEATH NOTICE: see the Cape Archives, MOOC 6/9/402, No 1714. OBITUARY: see the Daily Dispatch, 20.4.1900 and 21.4.1900.

William Christie Jackson was born in Liman Bank (Foffarshire) in November 1833 and emigrated to the Cape Colony as a young man.

He entered the Government Service in Cape Town where he became a Master Mariner and Assistant Port Captain. He was transferred as Port Captain to Knysna and later to East London.

He soon diversified his interests by entering the maritime trade, with two coasters to his name which sailed between Cape Town and East London. He also became superintendent of the East London Boating Company.

He served for a time as the Vice-Consul for Norway and Sweden.

He entered the Town Council in December 1892 as a representative for Ward 1, was re-elected in February 1893 and again in 1896.

Although by February 1899 he was already a very sick man, Jackson was returned to the Council unopposed but was forced to resign his seat in March the following year.

He served two terms as Mayor in 1897 and 1898 and was re-elected in July 1899 after David Rees had resigned. He became Deputy Mayor in February 1899 and served for six months until promoted to Mayor.

He died on 18 April 1900 at the age of 66, and was buried at East London.