Baby Face Nelson

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Baby Face Nelson

American gangster

Also known as: George Nelson, Lester Gillis

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 23, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

Byname of:: George Nelson

Original name:: Lester Gillis

Born:: 1908, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Died:: November 27, 1934, near Fox River Grove, Illinois (aged 26)

Also Known As:: George Nelson; Lester Gillis

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Baby Face Nelson (born 1908, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died November 27, 1934, near Fox River Grove, Illinois) was an American gunman and bank robber noted for his vicious killings and youthful looks.

From petty crime Nelson graduated into labour racketeering, working for Al Capone (1929–31) and other bootleg bosses; he was let go, however, proving too violent even for them. He then turned to bank robberies, joining with John Dillinger on two occasions (1934). Listed as Public Enemy Number One by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), he was killed in a wild shoot-out with FBI agents.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.