Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Christian, Judge Joseph, LL.D., eldest son of Dr. R. A. Christian, was born at Hewick, Middlesex Co., Va.,

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Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Christian, Judge Joseph, LL.D., eldest son of Dr. R. A. Christian, was born at Hewick, Middlesex Co., Va., July 10, 1828. While still a boy he gave promise of distinction. He pursued his academic studies for a while in Richmond, but chiefly at the Columbian College, where he graduated with honor in 1847. In 1853, he received the degree of A.M. Having studied law in his father’s neighborhood, with the late John D. McGill, Esq., and afterwards in Staunton, Va., he established him- self in practice, immediately after his admission to the bar, in his native county of Middlesex, and soon became one of the leading lawyers and advocates in that part of the State. He was also, both before and after the breaking out of the war, sent to the senate of Virginia, from the counties of Matthews and Middlesex, and in this body he gained the repu- tation of one of its very best debaters. Soon after the close of the war he was made judge of the sixth judicial district of Virginia, which responsible office he filled for years with such distinguished ability that he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals, a position which he has held for some nine years, with like honor to himself and to the judicial department of the State government. In the last election for a U. 8. senator for Virginia, he was, at no solicitation of his own, one of the prominent candidates for that position; and we understand that his name was also conspicuous on the list of those Southern jurists who were strongly recom- mended to the President for the lately vacant seat on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States. No man, perhaps, of his years, in Virginia, has a higher judicial reputation. The deliberative assembly, however, on account of his rare gifts as an orator, would, perhaps, exhibit his talents in a more striking light. As a gentleman, he is dis- tinguished for his urbanity and fine social qualities. Judge Christian was baptized by his father soon after he entered upon the practice of the law, and united with one of his churches. He is now con- nected with the Second Baptist church of Rich- mond, of which the Rey. Dr. McDonald is pastor. The Columbian College conferred upon him, in 1872, the degree of LL.D.From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart