Quick Facts
- Byname of:
- George Nelson
- Original name:
- Lester Gillis
- Died:
- November 27, 1934, near Fox River Grove, Illinois (aged 26)
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Baby Face Nelson
FBI mug shots of Baby Face Nelson, 1931.
Baby Face Nelson
American gangster
Also known as: George Nelson, Lester Gillis
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.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.