Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott was the first Canadian born African Canadian doctor. He was born in 1837 and was one of the first graduates of the school at the Elgin Settlement. Abbott studied medicine at the University of Toronto and was licensed to practice medicine in 1861. In 1863 Dr. Abbott became a surgeon in the Union Army during the Civil War and headed the Washington Hospital until 1866. Dr. Abbott returned to Canada in 1871 where he married and set up practice on William Street in Chatham. In 1878 Dr. Abbott was President of the Chatham Medical Society and Coroner of Kent County. Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott passed away in 1913.

Dr. Martin Robinson Delany was born May 6th , 1812 in West Virginia. From 1847 to 1849 he edited the North Star newspaper with abolitionist Frederick Douglas. Dr. Delany was the first African American to graduate from Harvard Medical School. He came to settle in Chatham in 1856 and was very active in the abolitionist movement. He was a recruiter for the Union Army during the Civil War and was an Army Major. As a Major Dr. Delany was the highest ranking field grade black officer in U.S. military history. Delany’s regiment, the 104th Colored Infantry, were among the Union occupation forces in Charleston South Carolina in 1865. Dr. Delany wrote several books including ‘The Condition, Elevation, Emigration and Destiny of the Coloured People of the United States’. Dr. Martin Robinson Delany died in 1885. For an excellent resource see
www.libraries.wvu.edu/delany/home.htm

Dr. Louis Milburn was born and raised in Windsor. He graduated from Western University in medicine. He completed his education in the field of psychiatry at Lafayette Hospital in Detroit.

Dr. Roy Perry was born in Chatham but his family moved to Windsor when he was two years of age. Dr. Perry was a graduate of Patterson Collegiate and became a doctor of dental surgery at the University of Toronto. He practiced in Windsor for thirty years. Dr. Perry was also the President of the Essex County Dental Association and the Chairman of the Windsor Board of Health. Dr. Perry was very active in community life and politics. For more information on Dr. Perry please see the Politics and Skating Party sections of this website.

Dr. William Kenneth Rock was born in Windsor and attended Patterson Collegiate where he was a talented athlete in Track and Field. Following High School he attended flight school and served two years as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1943 to 1945. He attended medical school in Toronto and graduated in 1951. When searching for an opportunity to complete his internship he wrote to Hotel Dieu. He received a telegram in reply which asked him to come immediately. He served one year as an intern and went on to deliver babies and perform operations as well as being a general practitioner. Dr. Rock established his office in Windsor in 1952. He had a very successful career including serving as the Coroner for the City of Windsor. Dr. Rock was very active in the community and served on the Windsor Media Council, the Inn of Windsor, St. Leonard’s House, Brentwood, The House of Sophrosyn and the Metro Windsor Essex County Health Unit.

Dr. Henry David Taylor was born in 1922. He is a graduate of McGill University. Dr. Taylor established his practice in Windsor in 1922. Dr. Taylor served on the Board of Education for 31 years including six terms as the Chairman of the Board. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Health and the Board of Governors of Metropolitan Hospital. In 1955 Campbell Avenue school was renamed H. D. Taylor Public School in his honour. He was the recipient of the Civitans Citizen of the Year Award in 1956. Dr. Taylor passed away in 1975.