John McRae was a Canadian physician, soldier, and poet, best known for writing the famous war poem "In Flanders Fields." Born on March 30, 1872, in Guelph, Ontario, he served as a medical officer during World War I, where he witnessed the horrors of battle firsthand. McRae's poem, written in 1915, reflects the sacrifices made by soldiers and the beauty of the poppy flower, which became a symbol of remembrance. He died of pneumonia on January 28, 1918, while still serving in the war, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in Remembrance Day ceremonies worldwide.