Wilson Ruffin Abbott (c. 1801 – 1876) was an American-born

Black Canadian Black Canadians () are Canadians of full or partial Afro-Caribbean or sub-Saharan African descent. Black Canadian settlement and immigration patterns can be categorized into two distinct groups. The majority of Black Canadians are descendants ...

and successful businessman and landowner in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, Ontario. He was the father of

Anderson Ruffin Abbott Anderson Ruffin Abbott (7 April 1837 – 29 December 1913) was the first Black Canadian to be licensed as a physician. His career included participation in the American Civil War.Thomas, Owen"Abbott, Anderson Ruffin"at the ''Dictionary of Can ...

, Canada's first Black physician.

Biography

Born to a Scotch-Irish father and a free West African mother in

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

, Wilson Ruffin Abbott left home when he was aged 15 to work as a steward on a

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

steamer. He married Ellen Toyer, and moved to

Akron, Ohio Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Akron metr ...

, where he opened a general grocery store, but left in 1834 after receiving a warning that his store was to be pillaged. In late 1835 or early 1836, he moved to Toronto,

Upper Canada The Province of Upper Canada () was a Province, part of The Canadas, British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the Province of Queb ...

, where he prospered as a businessman. He served in the militia that protected Toronto from the rebels in the 1837

Upper Canada Rebellion The Upper Canada Rebellion was an insurrection against the Oligarchy, oligarchic government of the British colony of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) in December 1837. While public grievances had existed for years, it was the Lower Canada Rebe ...

and was elected to Toronto city council in 1840. His son

in 1861 became the first African Canadian to practise medicine.Thomas, Owen
"Abbott, Anderson Ruffin"
''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''.

Death

Wilson Ruffin Abbott died in Toronto, aged 74 or 75.

References

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Abbott, Wilson Ruffin 1801 births 1876 deaths American emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario American people of Scotch-Irish descent Businesspeople from Richmond, Virginia Politicians from Richmond, Virginia Canadian people of African-American descent Canadian people of Ulster-Scottish descent People from Old Toronto 19th-century Canadian businesspeople Toronto city councillors Immigrants to Upper Canada Black Canadian businesspeople Black Canadian politicians Upper Canada Rebellion people 19th-century American businesspeople 19th-century African-American businesspeople 19th-century American landowners Burials at Toronto Necropolis 19th-century Canadian municipal councillors