John McCrae

Profession: WWI Soldier, Physician and Poet

Nationality:

Biography: Military physician and surgeon, John McCrae served in the Boer War in South Africa, and later, in Belgium during World War I.

McCrae is best remembered for his famous war memorial poem "In Flanders Fields", written after the Second Battle of Ypres. The poem popularized the use of poppies to commemorate those killed in the war. A tradition that continues till this day.

McCrae died of pneumonia while assigned to Canadian General Hospital in Boulange, France.

Born: November 30, 1872
Birthplace: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: January 28, 1918 (aged 45)
Cause of Death: Pneumonia