Christian James Fordyce was born in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, on 25 September 1901 . His father, James Wilson Fordyce, was a teacher. Prior to attending university, Christian was a student at Whitehill Higher Grade School, Glasgow. Christian attended the University of Glasgow from 1916-1920 , taking classes in Latin (Ordinary) and Greek (Ordinary) in his first year; Latin (Intermediate), Greek (Intermediate) and English Language and Literature (Ordinary) in his second year; Latin (Honours), Greek (Honours) and Mathematics (Ordinary) in his third, and Latin (Honours), Greek (Honours) and Logic (Ordinary) in his fourth and final year. He was awarded the Cowan medal for Latin (Ordinary) and the Jeffrey medal for Greek (Ordinary) in 1917; the Cowan medal (Blackstone examination) for Latin, the Cowan medal (Blackstone examination) for Greek, the Scott MacFarlan medal for Greek (Intermediate) and the Buchanan prize for English Language and Literature (Ordinary) in 1918; the Ramsay medal in Latin in 1919 and the Thomas Logan Memorial medal and prize for most distinguished graduate in Arts in 1921. He also received a certificate of distinction for Latin (Intermediate) in 1918, a special certificate for Maths (Ordinary) in 1919, and a certificate of distinction in Latin (Honours) and a first class certificate for Logic (Ordinary) in 1920. He graduated with a first class honours MA in Classics in April 1921 . He then studied Classics at Balliol College, University of Oxford , from 1920-1924 , as a Snell Exhibitioner and Newlands Scholar. He was awarded the Gainsford Prize for Greek Prose in 1921, Hertford and Craven scholarships in 1922 and the Chancellor's Prize for Latin Prose in 1923. He graduated with a first class BA honours degree in Literae Humaniores (Classics) in 1924 . After a further year at Balliol College, University of Oxford , as a War Memorial Research student, his first academic appointments were as Lecturer of Greek at the University of St Andrews from 1925-1926 , and Lecturer in Humanity at the University of Edinburgh from 1926-1927 . He was appointed Fellow, Classical Tutor and Librarian at Jesus College, University of Oxford , from 1927-1934 and then Professor of Humanities at the University of Glasgow from 1934-1971 . He also served as Clerk of Senate (1940-1971), Senate's Assessor (1960-1968) and Dean of Faculties (1973). In 1961 he was conferred the award of Commander of the Order of St Olaf and in 1962 he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of St Andrews . His publications include Herodotus in Ireland : being part of the third book of his account of Britain, (1921); A rhythmical version of Bede's De Ratione Temporum, (1927); The library of Jesus College, Oxford, with an appendix on the books bequeathed thereto by Lord Herbert of Cherbury, (1937) with T M Knox; Catullus: a commentary, (1961) and P Vergili Maronis Aeneidos libri VII-VIII, (1977) with P G Walsh and J D Christie. He died in Glasgow on 21 September 1974 .
From the guide to the Papers of Christian James Fordyce, 1901-1974, Professor of Humanity, 1934-1971, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1950-1971, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
