anderson ruffin abbott

2017What national monument is dedicated to the memory of those Canadians who served during the American Civil War?

The National Memorial in memory of Canadians who served during the American Civil War is located in Long Sault, Ontario. Unveiled on September 16, 2017, this unique monument recognizes the contributions of more than 40,000 Canadians who volunteered for both the Union and Confederate forces—an astonishing two percent of Canada's population at the time. The memorial’s three-metre black granite obelisk, along with commemorative walls and benches, stands as the only monument in Canada solely dedicated to these volunteers and their complex legacy. As of September 2025, it marks its 8th anniversary, honoring the individuals whose names and stories might otherwise remain hidden in history.

1913Who was the first Canadian-born doctor of African descent and cared for dying President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C.?

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott, born in Toronto in 1837, became the first Canadian-born doctor of African descent and played a key role in both Canadian and American history. Not only did he rise to surgeon-in-chief and serve with distinction during the American Civil War, but he was also present at the bedside of President Abraham Lincoln on the night of his assassination in Washington, D.C. Uniquely, Mary Todd Lincoln later honored him with a plaid shawl worn by the late president, and Abbott’s remarkable career included founding the Freedmen's Hospital and serving as Toronto's first Black coroner. His legacy is still celebrated today, 112 years after his death, as a pioneer of medicine and equality.