About Wilson Ruffin Abbott
Lived 1801 – 1876 (aged 74–75). Wilson Ruffin Abbott was an American businessperson.
Wilson Ruffin Abbott (c. 1801 – 1876) was an American-born Black Canadian and successful businessman and landowner in Toronto, Ontario. He was the father of Anderson Ruffin Abbott, Canada's first Black physician.
Biography Born to a Scotch-Irish father and a free West African mother in Richmond, Virginia, Wilson Ruffin 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 Akron, Ohio, where he opened a general grocery store, but left in 1834 after receiving a warning that his store was to be pillaged.
His son Anderson Ruffin Abbott in 1861 became the first African Canadian to practise medicine.
Death Wilson Ruffin Abbott died in Toronto, aged 74 or 75.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Wilson Ruffin Abbott?
American businessperson, landowner (1801-1876)
When was Wilson Ruffin Abbott born?
Wilson Ruffin Abbott was born in 1801 in Richmond.
When did Wilson Ruffin Abbott die?
Wilson Ruffin Abbott died in 1876 in Toronto.
What was Wilson Ruffin Abbott's occupation?
Wilson Ruffin Abbott was a businessperson.
What nationality was Wilson Ruffin Abbott?
Wilson Ruffin Abbott was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Wilson Ruffin Abbott
· DBpedia: Wilson Ruffin Abbott
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wilson Ruffin Abbott. https://biography.guide/wilson-ruffin-abbott/
MLA: "Wilson Ruffin Abbott." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wilson-ruffin-abbott/.
Chicago: "Wilson Ruffin Abbott." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wilson-ruffin-abbott/.
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