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Transcript

Who is Anderson Ruffin Abbott ?

His Childhood and School

His Career as a doctor

Other Facts

Legacy and End

1

2

3

4

An Afro-American figure

01 Anderson Abbott's Childhood and School life

Anderson Abbott was born the seventh of April 1837 in Toronto where he lived most of his childhood with his two black parents. His father, Wilson, became an active figure in politics. Due to the cleverness that he showed, he brought to his son an insane education for a black family right before the segregation's start.


Anderson studied in a lot of schools and different ones as he studied in private and state schools. He firstly joined a school named William King (for black children), then he went to Toronto's Academy where he claimed the rank of honnour student. After a short stay at Oberlin College, he cameback to Toronto for studying Medicine. He got his diploma in 1857 at 20 years old and became the first ever Canada-born black doctor 4 years after.

When the American Civil War started, Anderson tried to join the United Army's as an assistant surgeon but he did not succeed because of his black skin. He finally got a job as a civil surgeon in hospitals as Contraband Hospital and Freedman's hospital that are located in Washington D.C. (District of Columbia) between 1863 and 1865. He went higher and higher and became a known doctor as he was the Arlington Hospital's manager. Marry Todd Lincoln, the First Lady of the US, gave him a shawl that Abraham Lincoln (President of the US at the time) wore because she wanted to congratulate him for what he did.


He gave up his job in 1866 and created his own cabinet in 1871 in Toronto that he brought in Ontario in 1881. In 1894, he became a surgeon leading a team in Provident Hospital of Chicago where he will reach the Superintendent medical's rank, he finally decided to release himself next year.


02 Career as a doctor

When the American Civil War started, Anderson tried to join the United Army's as an assistant surgeon but he did not succeed because of his black skin. He finally got a job as a civil surgeon in hospitals as Contraband Hospital and Freedman's hospital that are located in Washington D.C. (District of Columbia) between 1863 and 1865. He went higher and higher and became a known doctor as he was the Arlington Hospital's manager. Marry Todd Lincoln, the First Lady of the US, gave him a shawl that Abraham Lincoln (President of the US at the time) wore because she wanted to congratulate him for what he did.


He gave up his job in 1866 and created his own cabinet in 1871 in Toronto that he brought in Ontario in 1881. In 1894, he became a surgeon leading a team in Provident Hospital of Chicago where he will reach the Superintendent medical's rank, he finally decided to release himself next year.


02 Career as a doctor

During the 80s, he became trustee in Dundas's high school and the president of the city’s internal management committee. In 1892, he received the higher grade that a black person has ever had : aide-de-camp on the Staff of the Commanding Officers Department but it was when he released himself that he did a lot for his name.


He started writting about Black people history, Civil War and medicine in the segregation's context.

He was also doing some predictions about black people' future.

03 Everything else he did

“It is just as natural for two races living together on the same soil to blend as it is for the waters of two river tributaries to mingle.”

Anderson Abbott

“by the process of absorption and expatriation the color line will eventually fade out in Canada.”

Anderson Abbott

04 Legacy and End

Anderson Abbott died the 29th of December 1913 at the age of 76 years old and let behind him a story full of hope for black Afro-Americans who wanted to be doctor as he proved that they can be. He might be considered as a precursor of Black Lives Matter.