John van Salee de Grasse facts for kids

John van Salee de Grasse (born 1825 or 1826 – died 1868) was a very important person in American history. He was the first African American to get a formal education as a doctor in the United States. He studied at the Oneida Institute and then earned his medical degree from Bowdoin College's medical school.

After finishing his studies, he opened his doctor's office in Boston, Massachusetts. There, he made history again by becoming the first African American to join the Massachusetts Medical Society. This was the first time an African American joined any medical society in the U.S. John de Grasse was born in New York City. His family had a mix of different backgrounds: his father was part Indian and part French, and his mother's family was African American with some Dutch, German, and Moroccan roots.

John de Grasse strongly supported ending slavery, known as abolitionism. He also worked to help people resist the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which made it harder for enslaved people to escape. During the American Civil War, he served as a surgeon in the Union Army. He was part of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, which was the first unit made up of United States Colored Troops.

Early Life and Education

John van Salee de Grasse was born in New York City around 1826. He had a sister named Serena and an older brother named Isaac. Their mother, Maria Van Salee, was a free woman of color from New York. Their family had a long history, tracing back to people from the Netherlands and a Moorish woman.

A Family of Many Cultures

John's father was George de Grasse, who was born in Calcutta, India. George had a mixed background, being part Indian and part French. It is believed that his father was a French naval officer named François Joseph Paul de Grasse. This French officer took George to Paris, France, where he was educated and adopted.

François de Grasse became a famous admiral. He was a hero during the American Revolutionary War. He led the French fleet in the Battle of the Chesapeake, which helped the Americans win at Yorktown. George de Grasse later moved to the United States and settled in New York City.

Through his father's connections, George de Grasse even worked for a time for Aaron Burr, a well-known American politician. George became a landowner in New York City and a U.S. citizen. Because of his mixed heritage, he faced fewer restrictions than many other African Americans at the time. Both George and Maria de Grasse believed strongly in education for their children.

Learning to Be a Doctor

John de Grasse received an excellent education. He started studying at the Oneida Institute in upstate New York when he was about 15 years old. After that, he traveled to Paris, France, to study medicine at Aubuk College.

He then returned to the United States to continue his medical training. He attended Bowdoin College's Medical School of Maine in Brunswick. In May 1849, he earned his medical degree with honors. He was the first person of color to earn a medical degree from a college in the United States. After graduating, he went back to France to learn more from a famous French surgeon named Alfred-Armand-Louis-Marie Velpeau.

Life in Boston and Family

In 1851, John de Grasse came back to the United States and made his home in Boston. The next year, on August 5, 1852, he married Cordelia Lucretia Howard. Her parents were Peter and Margaret Howard.

John's sister, Serena, married George T. Downing. George Downing became a very successful businessman, owning restaurants in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. He was also an important activist and abolitionist, working to end slavery and bring about social change.

A Doctor in the Civil War

John de Grasse opened his medical practice in Boston in 1854. He soon joined the Massachusetts Medical Society. This was a big step, as he was the first African American to become a member of any medical society in the United States.

When the United States Colored Troops were allowed to join the Union Army in 1863, John de Grasse volunteered. He served as a surgeon with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. This was the first unit of African American soldiers formed during the Civil War. After the war ended, he returned to Boston.