Recognizing first surgeon general of Canada in Cornwall

In this photo from the Ontario Heritage Trust, a plaque honouring the life of Col. Darby Bergin will be unveiled at the Cornwall Armoury on Fourth Street East on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. (Ontario Heritage Trust via Newswatch Group)

CORNWALL – A provincial plaque, honouring the life of Colonel Darby Bergin, will be unveiled at the Cornwall Armoury tonight (Tuesday).

Bergin was Canada’s first surgeon general in 1885, as well as a physician, politician and military officer.

The Ontario Heritage Trust and the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders’ Regimental Foundation will be doing the presentation at 7 p.m. at the building on Fourth Street East.

Bergin was the first commanding officer of the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion.

In the medical circle, he treated typhus patients in Cornwall and helped with a smallpox outbreak in Akwesasne.