Alexander Thomas Augusta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Thomas Augusta
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Alexander Thomas Augusta
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| Born | March 8, 1825 |
| Died | December 21, 1890 (aged 65) Washington, D.C., US
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| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Known for | American Civil War surgeon |
Alexander Thomas Augusta (born March 8, 1825 – died December 21, 1890) was a brave surgeon and a veteran of the American Civil War. He made history as the first black professor of medicine in the United States.
After getting his medical degree in Toronto, Canada West (now part of Canada) between 1850 and 1856, he started his own practice there. He returned to the United States just before the American Civil War began.
In 1863, Augusta joined the United States Army. He became a major and the Army's first African-American physician. He was also the first black hospital administrator in U.S. history while serving in the army. He left the army in 1866 as a brevet lieutenant colonel.
Later, in 1868, Augusta became the first African American to teach at Howard University. This also made him the first black professor at any medical college in the United States.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Alexander Thomas Augusta was born in 1825 in Norfolk, Virginia. His parents were free people of color, meaning they were not enslaved. Even though it was against the law for free black people to learn to read in Virginia at that time, young Augusta began to learn while working as a barber. This shows how determined he was to get an education. The state had made these strict laws after the Nat Turner slave rebellion in 1831.
As a young man, Augusta moved to Baltimore. There, he started to study medicine. He married Mary O. Burgoin in Baltimore on January 12, 1847.
Becoming a Doctor
Augusta wanted to study medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. However, he was not allowed to join. Even though he faced racism throughout his life, the university said he wasn't prepared enough. Augusta didn't give up. He arranged to get private lessons from a doctor who taught at the university.
Determined to become a doctor, Augusta traveled to California. He worked hard and saved money to pay for his medical training. He was worried he wouldn't be allowed into medical school in the U.S. So, in 1850, he went to Trinity College at the University of Toronto in Canada. While studying, he also worked as a druggist and chemist. Six years later, he earned his medical degree.
Medical Career in Canada
After graduating, Augusta stayed in Toronto, Canada West, and opened his own medical practice. The City of Toronto even made him the director of an industrial school. He also supported local anti-slavery groups that helped the movement in America. He started a group called the Provincial Association for the Education and Elevation of the Coloured People of Canada. This group gave books and school supplies to black children. Around 1860, Augusta left Canada for the West Indies, but he returned to Baltimore when the American Civil War started in 1861.
Serving in the Civil War
Augusta went to Washington, D.C. He wrote letters to President Abraham Lincoln and Edwin Stanton, who was the Secretary of War. He offered his skills as a surgeon to the Union Army. At first, he was turned down because he was black. Also, since he was a British citizen, joining the U.S. Army would go against Great Britain's promise to stay neutral in the war.
Augusta traveled to Washington, D.C., to argue his case. The Army Medical Board changed its mind and asked him to take an exam. He passed the test on April 14, 1863. He then became a major and a surgeon for African-American troops. He was the United States Army's first African-American physician and the highest-ranking African-American officer at that time. In 1863, he was also put in charge of the Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C. This made him the first black hospital administrator in U.S. history.
Some white people were not happy that Augusta had such a high rank. In May 1863, he was attacked by a crowd in Baltimore while wearing his officer's uniform. Three people were arrested for the assault. Another similar incident happened in Washington. On October 2, 1863, he became the Regimental Surgeon of the Seventh U.S. Colored Troops. In March 1865, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He left the military the next year with that rank.
Fighting for Fairness
While in the military, Augusta spoke out against unfair treatment of African Americans. On February 1, 1864, he wrote a letter about how black passengers were treated on streetcars in Washington, D.C. They were not allowed to sit in certain sections.
His letter was printed in newspapers in New York and Washington. Senator Charles Sumner read Dr. Augusta's letter to a group of people to support his efforts to end discrimination.
In 1865, Augusta wrote another letter to Major General Lewis Wallace. He protested that African-American train passengers were forced to sit in separate sections. This happened before the famous Plessy v. Ferguson court case, which challenged racial segregation on public transportation. On March 13, 1865, Augusta was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
On February 26, 1868, Augusta spoke before a U.S. Congressional Committee. He talked about Mrs. Kate Brown, an African-American employee of Congress. She had been hurt when a railroad worker forced her out of a passenger car. The railroad's rules said they could not treat passengers differently because of their race.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving the military in October 1866, Augusta worked for the Freedmen's Bureau. He led the Lincoln Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. While there, he encouraged African Americans to help themselves and support their own organizations. He earned the respect of white doctors in the city.
Augusta later returned to his private practice in Washington, D.C. In 1870, he worked as a surgeon at the Smallpox Hospital in Washington. He also served at the local Freedmen's Hospital, which he had led during the war.
From November 8, 1868, to July 1877, Augusta taught anatomy at the new medical department at Howard University. He was the first African American to be appointed to the faculty there, and also the first at any medical college in the U.S. Howard University gave him honorary degrees in 1869 and 1871 for his important contributions.
Despite all his achievements, Dr. Augusta was repeatedly denied membership in the local society of physicians. On June 9, 1869, Augusta and Charles Burleigh Purvis were suggested for membership in the Medical Society of D.C. They met the requirements, but they did not get enough votes. Another black doctor, A. W. Tucker, was also rejected later that month. Because of this, these three doctors formed their own group, the National Medical Society. Augusta worried that being excluded from professional groups would make it harder for younger African-American doctors to succeed. He worked hard against such racial discrimination.
Alexander Thomas Augusta passed away in Washington on December 21, 1890. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
His headstone shows his impressive military career: "Commissioned surgeon of colored volunteers, April 4, 1863, with the rank of Major. Commissioned regimental surgeon of the 7th Regiment of US. Colored Troops, October 2, 1863. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers, March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services-mustered out October 13, 1866."
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