John McCrae

John McCrae was born on November 30, 1872, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. A physician, poet, and soldier, McCrae is best known for his iconic World War I poem, "In Flanders Fields." He exhibited a keen interest in literature and medicine from an early age, graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in medicine in 1898. McCrae's medical career saw him serving as a resident house officer at Toronto General Hospital and later teaching pathology at the University of Vermont and McGill University in Montreal.

With the outbreak of the Second Boer War, McCrae enlisted in the Canadian Army, gaining valuable military experience that would later shape his role in World War I. When the Great War erupted in 1914, he volunteered once more, joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a medical officer. It was during the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915 that McCrae penned "In Flanders Fields," inspired by the sight of poppies growing amidst the graves of fallen soldiers.

Beyond his literary contribution, McCrae's work as a physician saved countless lives under arduous conditions. Tragically, his life was cut short when he succumbed to pneumonia on January 28, 1918, while stationed at a military hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. His legacy endures through his poetry and his service to both his country and humanity.