George Ansel Sterling Ryerson

George Ansel Sterling Ryerson was the son of the Rev. George L. Ryerson and his wife, Isabella Dorcas Sterling.

Dr. Ryerson was educated at Galt Grammar School, and then the Toronto Medical College, graduating in 1875 from Trinity University. He then studied in Edinburgh, and took double qualifications of Physicians and Surgeons. From here he went to London and studied at the Moorfields Eye Hospital, and the Throat Hospital in Golden Square. His studies took him to Paris, Heidelburg and Vienna. In 1880 he returned to Canada and was appointed to the Eye and Ear Dept. of the General Hospital and Hospital for Sick Children, and Professor of Eye and Ear diseases in Trinity Medical College. He served in the North-West Rebellion in 1885 as surgeon to the Royal Grenadiers, took part in the actions at Fish Creek and Batoche, and was promoted to Surgeon-Major for distinguished service. He was the Master of Ionic Lodge A.F. & A.M., and was Chairman of the Masonic reception to the Duke of Connaught. He had also written many articles in journals in Canada and the USA.

Dr. Ryerson was concerned about the almost total lack of adequate staff to care for the wounded in battle. He organized an ambulance corps for his own regiment, and to distinguish his ambulance from military wagons he made a "red cross" to put on it. This was in 1885, at the North-West Rebellion of Louis Riel. The Red Cross branch of Canada was established in 1896, and was the first colonial branch of the British Red Cross, which was founded in 1870 during the Crimean War. The Canadian Red Cross was officially established by an Act of Parliament in 1909.

He served with the 2nd Contingent in the Boer War as the Canada Commissioner British R.C.S., listed as G.S. Ryerson. His cousin Charles served in the "B" Squadron. They left Canada for South Africa in Janaury 1900. George was known as G. A. Sterling Ryerson, and this is how he signed his will on May 12th 1925.

Looking Backward, published in 1924, is the interesting story of his life.