Christopher Lyman Magee was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Elizabeth (Steele) Magee, an Englishwoman, and Christopher Lyman Magee, a hatter of Scotch-Irish descent, grandson of Robert Magee who came to Pennsylvania in 1786 from County Derry, Ireland.
Christopher first attended a private school, then entered the public schools, but did not complete his high-school course because of the financial crisis caused by the death of his father. Later, however, he attended Western University for a time as a special student.
After a brief career as an office boy, Magee secured a political appointment in the office of the city controller in 1864, moved on to the city treasurer's office in 1869, and in 1871, received election as treasurer of Pittsburgh. During his service of four years, he reduced the city debt from fifteen to eight million dollars. At the expiration of his second term, he decided to abandon public office as a profession, drew up an ambitious plan which involved control of the politics of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, and for several years devoted himself to its realization.
Almost at once, he became an important factor in Allegheny County politics. By 1877, he had become influential in city affairs. An advantageous political alliance in 1879 with William Flinn, a public contractor, materially added to his power, which was further increased when, in 1882, Flinn became chairman of the city Republican executive committee, a position which he held continuously for twenty years.
Magee next proceeded to safeguard the permanence of his position by firmly entrenching himself with Pittsburgh business interests. Banks, utilities, and other businesses consistently supported Magee and Flinn in return for deposits of public funds, franchises, and other favors.
Magee became the political agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Allegheny County and finally, it is reported, in the entire state of Pennsylvania. In spite of more or less friction with M. S. Quay, he and Flinn controlled the politics of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County with scarcely a break from 1882 to 1899.
In the latter year, Magee's health began seriously to fail, a bitter fight with Quay on the opposite side developed over the award of public contracts, and in 1903, two years after Magee's death, the Magee-Flinn machine disappeared. Beginning with 1876, Magee sat as a delegate in every Republican National Convention.
In 1884, he served as national committeeman and in 1892 led the Harrison forces in the national convention. With two exceptions he attended every state convention from 1872 until his death, twice held the post of secretary to the state committee, and was twice elected to the state Senate.
His public-office record also included a ten-year term as fire commissioner of Pittsburgh and a term as treasurer of the Pittsburgh sinking-fund commission.
Magee occupied a prominent place in Pittsburgh business circles, owned considerable real estate, a newspaper, and stock in more than fifty enterprises; served as director of fifteen banks, insurance companies, and traction lines and as president of the thirty-million-dollar Consolidated Traction Company; and left an estate appraised at more than four million dollars. Magee is honored with several monuments throughout the city of Pittsburgh, including one on Schenley Plaza created by the sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens. His home "Maples" became a maternity hospital in 1911, which continues today as Magee-Women's Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a hospital for women and their babies, envisioned by Magee in his will. As stipulated, it opened after his wife's death and was named Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital in honor of his mother.
Magee entered into Pittsburgh social life to the extent of listing in the Social Register. He possessed more than average physical distinction. Finely poised, tactful, dashing, he was unusually magnetic in personality.
He belonged to several prominent clubs, held a rather casual membership in the First Methodist Protestant Church, and served as life trustee of the Carnegie Fine Arts and Museum Fund, trustee of Western University and Pittsburg College of the Holy Ghost, and president of the trustees of Mercy Hospital.
He gave $100, 000 for a zoological garden as a Christmas present to the children of Pittsburgh, a $15, 000 pathological laboratory to Mercy Hospital, $10, 000 toward a newsboys' home, and left the bulk of his large estate for the establishment of the Elizabeth Steele Magee Hospital.
In 1878, Magee married Eleanor Louise Gillespie.
14 May 1808 - 1 February 1863
9 Mar 1814 - 19 March 1889
9 June 1846 - 23 March 1894
31 March 1855 - 14 May 1917
26 April 1853 - 9 February 1937
Died on 30 November 1924.
24 May 1854 - 19 May 1909
