Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
2004 - Now in our 14th Year - 2018
To see what's new on this site, you can visit the Home Page
Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone
in Landscape mode (Horizontal)
Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott 1837-1913
Photo by contributor Dwayne Howard - June 2009
Photo from Google Street View ©2013 Google - Posted November, 2013
Plaque Location
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent
In Chatham, in a park on the northeast corner of
Wellington Street East and Princess Street South
Coordinates: N 42 24.323 W 82 10.400 |
 |
Plaque Text
Anderson Ruffin Abbott was born in Toronto in 1837. His parents, Wilson and Ellen Toyer Abbott, were free people of colour who came to Canada in 1835 in pursuit of economic advancement and social justice. Abbott was educated at the Elgin Settlement near Chatham, and then studied at the Toronto School of Medicine. He received his medical licence in 1861, becoming the first Canadian-born doctor of African descent. Upon completing his studies, Dr. Abbott became one of eight Black surgeons to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War and served with distinction as the surgeon-in-chief at Freedmen's Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1871, he settled in Chatham, where he established a medical practice and served as president of the Wilberforce Educational Institute. He also became Kent County's first Black coroner, president of the Chatham Medical Society and associate editor of the Missionary Messenger, the official publication of the British Methodist Episcopal Church. Abbott eventually returned to Toronto. He is buried at the Toronto Necropolis.
Another plaque at this location
The Provincial Freeman
Related Toronto plaque
Toronto Necropolis
More
Information
More
Black History
Other Plaques in Chatham
The Abolition Movement in British North America
Chatham Blockhouse 1794
David Mills 1831-1903
Emily Ferguson Murphy 1868-1933
Jean McKishnie Blewett 1862-1934
John Brown's Convention 1858
Kent County Court House
Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-1893)
Mary Ann Shadd (Cary) (1823-1893)
Old St. Paul's Church & Christ Church
The Provincial Freeman
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted February 18, 2011
This is going to help for my class project(: Thanks.
> Posted March 7, 2010
This will help me on my biography. Thanks (Y)
Here's where you can sent me a comment for this page.
Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.
Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).
Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.
To send me your comment, click .
Thanks
Alan L Brown
Webmaster
Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click .