Wilson Ruffin Abbott
Wilson Ruffin Abbott | |
---|---|
Born | 1801 |
Died | 1876 (aged 74–75) Toronto, Ontario |
Resting place | Necropolis Cemetery 43°40′06″N 79°21′37″W / 43.668282°N 79.360259°W |
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.[1]
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.[1] In late 1835 or early 1836, he moved to Toronto, Canada, where he prospered as a businessman.[1]
His son Anderson Ruffin Abbott became the first African Canadian to practice medicine.
References
- ^ a b c Winks, Robin W. (1972). "Wilson Ruffin Abbott". Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. X. Toronto. ISBN 0-8020-3287-7.
{{cite book}}
: External link in
(help); Unknown parameter|chapterurl=
|chapterurl=
ignored (|chapter-url=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- Winks, Robin W. (1972). "Wilson Ruffin Abbott". Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. X. Toronto. ISBN 0-8020-3287-7.
{{cite book}}
: External link in
(help); Unknown parameter|chapterurl=
|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.
Categories:
- 1801 births
- 1876 deaths
- American emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario
- American people of Scotch-Irish descent
- Businesspeople from Toronto
- Canadian people of Ulster-Scottish descent
- People from Old Toronto
- Businesspeople from Richmond, Virginia
- Pre-Confederation Canadian businesspeople
- Toronto city councillors
- Immigrants to Upper Canada
- Black Canadian politicians