Sir William Christie was the last Lord Mayor to hold the post in the Belfast Corporation, and the first to occupy the position when Belfast City Council was formed in 1973.

Born on 1 June 1913 to Richard and Ellen Christie, he was educated at the Ward School in Bangor.

Christie was the director of Christie’s Wallpaper Ltd, which had its head office on the Crumlin Road as well as branches at Newtownards Road, Rosemary Street, Shaftesbury Square, Upper Newtownards Road and York Street.

Christie was first elected as a councillor for the Belfast Corporation in 1961. He served as High Sheriff of Belfast during 1964 and as alderman from 1973 to 1977. He was knighted in 1975 and received an MBE in 1970. Christie was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1975 and a Deputy Lieutenant of Belfast in 1977.

He received a Salvation Army Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service in 1973.