John Stewart Rock, born October 13, 1825 Salem, New Jersey, was a teacher, doctor, dentist, lawyer, and abolitionist. His parents were free African-Americans and they encouraged him to study and provided him with formal schooling. At 19, he became a teacher in Salem, teaching in a one-room school. During this time, he began studying medicine under two white physicians, but was denied entry into medical school based on his race.
He transferred to dentistry and did an apprenticeship with a white dentist. Rock opened his dental practice in Philadelphia in January 1850. He was finally admitted to medical school, and graduated from American Medical College in Philadelphia in 1852, becoming one of the first African-Americans to attain a degree in medicine.
He moved to Boston in 1853 and opened his dentist and medical practice, treating many fugitive slaves making their was to Canada via the Underground Railroad. After a trip to Europe to seek treatment for health problems, he gave up his medical and dental practices and began to study law. In September 1861, Rock gained admittance to the Massachusetts Bar where he advocated for the rights for African-Americans.
On February 1, 1865, the day after Congress approved the Thirteenth Amendment to end slavery, Charles Sumner introduced a motion that made Rock the first black attorney to be admitted to the bar of the US Supreme Court. He became the first African-American to be received on the floor of the US House of Representatives.
Rock passed away in December 1866 from tuberculosis at the age of 41.
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