Lt Col (Dr) Alexander T Augusta, US Army's 1st Black Doctor, 7th USCT, Civil War, Buried Arl Nat Cem

Last edited Mon Apr 17, 2023, 07:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Alexander Thomas Augusta was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1825. His parents were free African Americans. Growing up in Baltimore, he worked as a barber while he pursued his dream of attending medical school. After earning his medical degree in Canada, Dr. Augusta offered his services to the U.S. military. In a letter to President Abraham Lincoln, he offered his services as a surgeon.

But Augusta was initially rejected due to his race. Nevertheless, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to plead his case and was finally accepted. In April 1863, he passed the Army's medical examination & the Army commissioned him at the rank of major. He became a surgeon for African American troops, making him the Army's 1st African American doctor. At the time, Augusta was the highest ranking African American officer. He served as the Regimental Surgeon of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops. He was awarded a promotion to lieutenant colonel in March 1865.

During his extraordinary career, Augusta became America's first black hospital administrator, and the man responsible for the desegregation of train cars in Washington D.C. In 1865, after the Civil War had ended, President Lincoln invited him to the White House. African Americans visiting the White House was very rare and the event was widely reported across the country. Later in life, Augusta served as the head of the Lincoln Hospital in Savannah, Georgia.

Later he was the attending surgeon to the Smallpox Hospital in Washington in 1870. And eventually he went on to teach anatomy at Howard University. He was the first African American faculty appointed to any medical college in the United States. At the age of 65, Augusta died in Washington, D.C. He became the first black Army officer to be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Alexander T. Augusta's tomb can be found in Section 1, at Grave 124A. https://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2022/02/25/Remembering-Dr-Alexander-Augusta-the-US-Armys-First-Black-Doctor
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- National Park Service, Dr. Alexander Thomas Augusta, - In Depth, Ford's Theatre, Ed.

Dr. Alexander Thomas Augusta was a pioneer for Blacks in the 19th Century, paving the way for millions who would follow. He consistently rose above the bigotry of his time, continually fighting for the rights of other Blacks, & himself. He lived a successful and full life, despite the myriad of obstacles he faced throughout. Alexander Thomas Augusta was born to free parents of color in Norfolk, Va. on March 9, 1825. From his very first memories, he wanted to become a doctor. He spent his early years working towards that goal, something that was not easy for a Black man in the 19th Cent. Despite state laws prohibiting the education of Blacks, Augusta learned to read and write. As a young adult he moved to Baltimore, & then to Philadelphia, where he hoped to enroll into the University of Penn.’s medical school.

Throughout these transitions, he supported himself by working as a barber. Augusta was denied entrance to the university due to what he called a “prejudice of color.” Because of laws preventing the education of Blacks, he would have lacked the evidence needed to prove that he had the prerequisites for admittance. This was likely another factor for his rejection. Undaunted, Augusta was able to convince a professor who was sympathetic to his cause, to secretly tutor him. Ultimately, Augusta moved back to Baltimore where he married Mary O. Burgoin, a woman of color. It is not certain whether she was Black, Native American or Mulatto, & there are no known images of her. She was listed as “coloured” in one Canadian census, & was noted as being a Native American in 2 historical accounts. The 2 would enjoy a strong partnership that endured to the end of Alexander’s life.

At some point thereafter, the newlyweds moved to Calif. Based on the timing of their move west, it is believed that they, like many others, went with hopes of striking it rich in the CA gold rush. The 1852 census lists Augusta as a barber in El Dorado County, CA, which was “the heart of the gold country.” (Newspaper Ad for Augusta's Apothecary 1855). Eventually, the couple moved to Toronto, a city known for its racial tolerance, & a place that offered opportunities for ambitious & educated African Americans. The young couple thrived here. Augusta opened an apothecary on Yonge St. The business helped to support the couple, & it also allowed Augusta to work in the field of medicine. Mary matched her husband’s drive by becoming one of just a few women of color who owned and operated a business. She called it the “New Fancy Dry Goods & Dress Making Establishment.” Her business was located in Toronto’s 1st working-class suburb, an area that attracted many newcomers, incl. a large population of formerly enslaved people.

She also advertised in the “Provincial Freeman” newspaper that was “committed to ending discrimination & encouraged opportunities & education”, particularly for those who had recently arrived in Canada.

This connection makes it likely that Mary, just like her husband, wanted to support her community, & people like themselves who were looking for a chance to succeed. In Toronto, Augusta was not only running his business, he was also working towards his medical degree. He had been accepted into Trinity College where he graduated with a bachelor of medicine degree in 1856. The president of the college said that he was one of his most “brilliant students.”He established his own successful practice that included patients of all colors & incomes. Augusta was later appointed as the head of the Toronto City Hospital.. Despite his deepening roots in Canada, Augusta kept one eye on his home country as it moved into a Civil War. He was stirred into action when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863...

- Read More, https://www.nps.gov/foth/learn/historyculture/alexander-augusta.htm