Rose Fortune (13 March 1774–20 February 1864) was an African American who came to Nova Scotia with the Black Loyalists where she became a successful businesswoman and the first female police officer in what is now Canada.

[edit] Biography

Rose Fortune was born into slavery in the British colony of Virginia. Her family escaped slavery during the American Revolution and settled in Nova Scotia as part of the Black Loyalist migration when Rose was 10 years old.^[1] The family settled in Annapolis Royal. In 1825, she started her own business, the Lewis Transfer Company. She carted luggage between the ferry docks and nearby homes and hotels. Later Fortune became the town's police officer, patrolling the town and wharf. She also joined the underground railroad to help African Americans escape slavery. She is buried in an unmarked grave in Garrison Cemetery.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Famous Canadians: Rose Fortune
• The African American Registry: Rose Fortune
• The Canadian Encyclopedia: Rose Fortune
• http://ablenet.ca/pdf/fortunebutler.pdf

This United States biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This Canadian biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e