Wilson Ruffin Abbott

Wilson Ruffin Abbott
Born	1801 Richmond, Virginia
Died	1876 (aged 74–75) Toronto, Ontario
Resting place	Necropolis Cemetery 43.668282°N 79.360259°W / 43.668282; -79.360259
Occupation	Businessman
Spouse	Ellen Toyer

Wilson Ruffin Abbott (1801–1876) was an American-born African Canadian and successful businessman and landowner in Toronto, Ontario. He was the father of Anderson Ruffin Abbott, Canada's first African physician.

Born to a Scotch-Irish father and a free West African mother in Richmond, Virginia, Abbott left home when he was aged 15 to work as a steward on a Mississippi River steamer.

He married Ellen Toyer, and moved to Mobile, Alabama, 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, Canada, where he prospered as a businessman.

His son Anderson Ruffin Abbott became the first African Canadian to practice medicine.

References

• Winks, Robin W. (1972). "Wilson Ruffin Abbott". Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. X. Toronto. ISBN 0-8020-3287-7. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Hill, Daniel G. (1960). Negroes in Toronto: A Sociological Study of a Minority Group. University of Toronto Press.
• Hill, Daniel G. (1981). The freedom-seekers: Blacks in early Canada. Book Society of Canada. ISBN 0-7725-5283-5.
• "The Freedom Seekers". Black Dominion. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-26.