Arthur Currie connection to Michael Currie
Sir Arthur William Currie was a military leader for Canada in World War I and "is generally considered to be among the most capable commanders of the Western Front, and one of the finest commanders in Canadian military history."
Given that Michael Currie and Sir Arthur share the same family name, Michael sometimes is posed the question, are the two related?
Michael's last name originates from John Currie, a Scot born in Galashiels, Scotland. His family business was operating textile machinery, and so he immigrated to Canada, arriving 8 June 1883, to work the wollen mills of Almonte, Ontario. His youngest son Alex settled in Winnipeg, and Alex's son Jack settled in Thunder Bay. Jack's son Ron remained in Thunder Bay, and had Michael.
Arthur Currie was born to William Garner Curry and Jane Patterson on 5 December 1875 at farm near the hamlet of Napperton, Ontario, just west of Strathroy. He was the third in a family of eight children and grew up on the homestead of his paternal grandparents, John Corrigan and Jane Garner. Currie's grandparents had emigrated from Ireland in 1838 to escape religious strife, and upon their arrival in Canada they had converted from Catholicism and Anglicanism to Methodism, changing the family name from Corrigan to Curry. Arthur Currie modified the spelling of his surname from Curry to Currie in 1897.
Thus, Michael's patrilinial roots in Canada date from 1883 via Scotland, whereas Sir Arthur's date from 1845 via Ireland.
John Currie -> Alex Currie -> Jack Currie -> Ron Currie -> Michael Currie
John Corrigan -> William Garner Curry -> Arthur Currie
February 1807 - John "Old John" Corrigan born in Ballycastle, County Mayo, Ireland
1838 - John and his wife emigrate from Ireland to escape religious strife, and upon their arrival in Canada they had converted from Catholicism and Anglicanism to Methodism, changing the family name from Corrigan to Curry.
1846 - John Currie born in Galasheils, Scotland
1 July 1846 - William Garner Curry born in Ontario.
5 December 1875 - Sir Arthur Currie born in Napperton, Middlesex County, Ontario, to William.
8 June 1883 - John Currie immigrates to Canada.
1889 - Alex Currie born.