Nathan K. McGill

Nathan K. McGill (1888–1946) was the first African American to serve as assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois. He was also the first African American appointed to the Chicago Library Board.[1][2]

Nathan K. McGill
Portrait of Chicago-based attorney Nathan K. McGill
BornNathan Kellogg McGill
(1888-11-29)November 29, 1888
Quincy, Florida
DiedMay 7, 1946(1946-05-07) (aged 57)
Chicago, Illinois
Alma materCookman Institute
Boston University School of Law (LL.B.) (1912)
OccupationAttorney
Spouse(s)
Idalee Thornton
​
(divorced)​

Beatrice H. Stiles
ChildrenNathan Kellogg McGill, Jr.
Simuel Decatur McGill II
Winston Beecher McGill

Biography

Nathan Kellogg McGill was born in Quincy, Florida on November 29, 1888 (some sources indicate November 29, 1880[3]), the son of Nathan and Agnes (Zeigler) McGill.[1][4]

After graduating from Cookman Institute, McGill studied at Boston University School of Law. In 1912, he began his career as a lawyer, first in Jacksonville, Florida, then to Chicago, where he spent most of his adult life.[1]

From 1925 to 1934, McGill served as secretary and general counsel for Robert S. Abbott Publishing Company, publishers of the Chicago Defender. At the Defender he was nicknamed ""Little Napoleon"" because he managed the newspaper with authority.[5]

He was also an assistant state's attorney for Cook County, Illinois from 1925 to 1926.[2]

In 1929, he became the first African American to serve as assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois. He served in that capacity until 1933.[1][2]

He died at his home in Chicago on May 7, 1946. McGill was buried in Jacksonville, Florida.[2][6][7]

Awards and recognition
  • Who's Who in Colored America[1]

References
  1. Yenser, Thomas, ed. (1938–1940). Who's Who in Colored America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Persons of African Descent in America. Brooklyn, New York: Who's Who in Colored America.
  2. "Death Ends Colorful Career of N. K. McGill". Chicago Defender. Cook County Genealogy Trails. May 1946.
  3. "World War I Draft Registration Card [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. 1918-09-12. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  4. "U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. 1942-04-27. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  5. Davis, Frank Marshall (1992). "20:1927-1929". In Tidwell, John Edgar (ed.). Livin' the Blues:Memoirs of a Black Journalist and Poet. Madison, Wisconsin and London: The University of Wisconsin Press. p. 110. ISBN 0-299-13500-4. General manager of the Defender was a diminutive, stern faced, wavy haired lawyer, Nathan K. McGill, known as "Little Napoleon," who ruled with a stainless steel hand.
  6. "Nathan K. McGill". Chicago Tribune. Cook County Genealogy Trails. May 8, 1946.
  7. "Historical Cook County, Illinois Vital Records [database online]". Death Certificates. Cook County (IL) Clerk's Office. Retrieved 18 November 2010.


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