Oil on canvas, 31 x 26 in., by Mrs. J. William Fosdick, undated
Location: Hearing Room A

Born July 10, 1828 in Middlesex County, Virginia.
Died May 29, 1905 in Richmond, Virginia.

Elected by the General Assembly on March 23, 1870 to a 12-year term beginning January 1, 1871, but began his service early on April 12, 1870. Service terminated by the election of Benjamin Lacy, the nominee of the Readjuster party.

Education:
Columbian College, A.B., 1847; M.A., 1853
Read law in Middlesex County and Staunton, Virginia

Other judicial service:
Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit, 1866-1870

Professional career:
Private practice of law in Middlesex County (1849-1869) and Richmond, Virginia (1869)
Virginia state senator, 1859-1863
Virginia state delegate, 1866-1869, 1883-1884

Further reading/Research collections

Sources:
Elected, 91 Va., xx; began his service on April 12, 1870, The Hornbook of Virginia History, “Judges of the Supreme Court of Virginia,” (2013, December 11), in Encyclopedia Virginia, retrieved on September 15, 2014; defeated by Lacy, The Supreme Court: Lewis, Richardson, Fauntleroy and Hinton Succeed Moncure, Staples, Christian, Anderson, and Burke, The Daily Dispatch, (Richmond Va.), February 26, 1882, col. 3, retrieved on March 7, 2014; birth, death, education, and career, William Bland Whitley, “Joseph Christian (1828-1905),” Dictionary of Virginia Biography (1998); portrait, Library of Virginia catalog.