Anderson Ruffin Abbott
Anderson Ruffin Abbott, born on April 7, 1837, in Toronto, Canada, was a pioneering figure as the first Canadian-born Black physician. He grew up in a family that had relocated from Mobile, Alabama, to Canada, where he became an active member of anti-slavery societies. Abbott pursued education at notable institutions, including Oberlin College and the Toronto School of Medicine, though he did not graduate. He gained a medical license in 1861 and subsequently served as an assistant surgeon in the Union army during the American Civil War, where he worked at the Contraband Hospital in Washington, D.C., and later became the surgeon-in-chief at Freedmen's Hospital.
Abbott's contributions significantly impacted healthcare for African Americans and emphasized the importance of equitable medical care. He was present at the vigil over President Abraham Lincoln after the assassination and later returned to Canada, where he continued his medical practice and became an advocate for educational equality. Throughout his career, he published articles on various topics and dedicated his life to combating racial discrimination. Abbott passed away in 1913 and is remembered for breaking barriers in medicine and advocating for social justice, leaving a lasting legacy that inspires future generations.
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Anderson Ruffin Abbott
Physician, Coroner
- Born: April 7, 1837
- Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
- Died: December 19, 1913
- Place of death: Toronto, Canada
Also known as: Doctor Abbott
Significance: Anderson Ruffin Abbott was the first Black Canadian to become a licensed physician. He was one of only eight Black surgeons to serve in the Union Army during the United States Civil War (1861–1865).
Background
Anderson Ruffin Abbott was born in Toronto, Canada, on April 7, 1837, to Wilson Ruffin Abbott and Ellen Toyer. He grew up in Toronto with three sisters and one brother. The Abbotts relocated from their home in Mobile, Alabama, where they lived as free people of color and operated a general grocery store. They left after receiving warnings about possibly being robbed. They arrived in Toronto around 1835 or 1836 and flourished there, becoming active members of the anti-slavery societies of Canada. Abbott benefited from the excellent public school opportunities and attended the Buxton Mission School, followed by Oberlin College and the Toronto School of Medicine (later the University of Toronto). Although he did not graduate from the university, Abbott received a license to practice from the Medical Board of Upper Canada in 1861, thus becoming the first Canadian-born Black physician.
Life’s Work
In February 1863, as the American Civil War unfolded, Abbott applied for a commission as an assistant surgeon in the Union army. However, after his application was rejected, he reapplied and was accepted as a medical cadet in the newly formed US Colored Troops. Initially assigned to the Contraband Hospital in Washington, DC, Abbott’s skills and dedication quickly gained him respect. (Contraband hospitals were established to provide medical care to escaped enslaved people, who were referred to as contraband during the war.) Abbott’s experience at the Contraband Hospital gave him firsthand insight into the devastating impact of slavery on the health and well-being of African Americans.
In 1864, Abbott’s talents were recognized and he was appointed as the surgeon-in-chief at the Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, DC (now a part of Howard University). The hospital primarily served African Americans, providing them with much-needed medical care during and after the war. Due to his impressive work at the hospital, he was among the select group who stood vigil over President Abraham Lincoln when he was assassinated in April 1865. In appreciation, Mary Todd Lincoln later presented Abbott with a shawl her husband had worn to his first inauguration.
After resigning from his position at the Freedman’s Hospital in 1866, Abbott returned to Canada and established his private medical practice. He married Mary Ann Casey, the daughter of a successful barber, in 1871 and they moved to Chatham, Ontario. From 1873 to 1880, Abbott served as the president of the Wilberforce Educational Institute, which advocated against segregated schools in the area. He was also appointed the coroner for Kent County.
By 1881, the Abbott family had moved to Dundas, Ontario, where Abbott became a prominent member of the community, serving as chairman of the town’s internal management committee. By 1890, the family was back in Toronto, but in 1894 Abbott’s professional life took another turn when he accepted appointment as surgeon-in-chief at Provident Hospital in Chicago. Established in 1892, it was the first training hospital for Black nurses in the United States. In 1896, he became Provident’s medical superintendent; he resigned the following year, citing “business reasons” as the cause.
After his resignation and return to Toronto, Abbott dedicated more time to writing editorials and articles about Black history, the Civil War, Darwinism, biology, poetry, and medicine for various publications, including the Colored American Magazine, based in Boston; the Anglo-American Magazine, based in London; and the New York Age, then the leading African American newspaper in the United States. Abbott’s publications include “Some Recollections of Lincoln’s Assassination,” which appeared in the Anglo-American Magazine in May 1901.
In 1913, Abbott passed away due to heart disease at the age of seventy-six. He is buried in the Toronto Necropolis.
Impact
Abbott’s work as a doctor had an important impact on healthcare and society. As the first Canadian-born Black physician, he broke racial barriers and paved the way for future generations of Black medical professionals. Abbott’s dedication to his patients, regardless of their background, exemplified his commitment to equitable healthcare. His service during the Civil War, particularly at the Freedmen’s Hospital, improved medical care for African Americans.
Abbott’s advocacy for equality and justice extended beyond the medical field, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire and shape the fight against discrimination and disparities in healthcare. He became a prominent advocate for the abolition of slavery, participating in organizations such as the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada. He actively promoted the rights of Black Canadians and worked to dismantle racial barriers in education and employment.
Personal Life
Abbott had three sons and two daughters with his wife, Mary Ann Casey.
Bibliography
Gilbert, Jim and Lisa. “Chatham Doctor was Honoured Internationally.” Chatham Daily News, 3 Feb. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20180212005141/http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2017/02/03/chatham-doctor-was-honoured-internationally. Accessed 19 June 2023.
Newby, M. Dalyce. Anderson Ruffin Abbott: First Afro-Canadian Doctor. Markam, Ontario, Fitzhenny and Whiteside, 1998.
Robart-Johnson, Sharon. “Anderson Ruffin Abbott (1837–1913).” BlackPast.org, 16 Jan. 2011, blackpast.org/african-american-history/abbott-anderson-ruffin-1837-1913/. Accessed 19 June 2023.
Sadlier, Rosemary. “Black in Toronto: Anderson Ruffin Abbott was the First Canadian-born Black Doctor.” Toronto.com, 1 Apr. 2015, updated 17 Mar. 2023, toronto.com/news/black-in-toronto-anderson-ruffin-abbott-was-the-first-canadian-born-black-doctor/article‗87c86cfb-951e-583f-8baf-dd7d5df6b14f.html. Accessed 20 June 2023.
“The First Black Doctor in Canada: Anderson Ruffin Abbott.” Toronto Public Library, 2010, static.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ve/doctor‗abbott/index.html. Accessed 20 June 2023.
Thomas, Owen. “Abbott, Anderson Ruffin.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 1998. biographi.ca/en/bio.php?id‗nbr=7166. Accessed 20 June 2023.