What are facts about James Mccune Smith?

James McCune Smith (1813-1865) was the first African American to earn a medical degree, graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1837. He was a prominent abolitionist, writer, and public speaker, advocating for racial equality and social justice. Smith also established a successful medical practice in New York City and was involved in the intellectual circles of his time, corresponding with notable figures like Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois. His contributions to medicine and social reform had a lasting impact on the African American community and beyond.