Baby Face Nelson
A ruthless and flamboyant Depression-era outlaw, his violent spree made him the FBI's top target after the death of John Dillinger.
1908–1934 (age 26)·American bank robber·Birthday: December 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Lester Gillis, known by the mocking nickname 'Baby Face Nelson' for his youthful, unassuming looks, was in reality one of the most volatile and vicious gangsters of the Public Enemy era. Operating out of Chicago, he graduated from car theft to bank robbery, his temper and readiness with a Tommy gun setting him apart. His alliance with the more famous John Dillinger in 1934 catapulted him to national notoriety. After engineering Dillinger's escape from Crown Point jail, Nelson became a key member of the gang. Following Dillinger's death, the FBI declared Nelson and his crew 'Public Enemy Number One.' His final months were a chaotic run from the law, marked by brazen shootouts. The end came in a furious gun battle on an Illinois country road in November 1934, where Nelson, though mortally wounded, managed to kill two FBI agents before dying in his wife's arms later that night. His short, brutal career exemplified the era's glamorization of crime and its inevitably bloody conclusion.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Baby was born in 1908, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Baby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1908
Baby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1908Born
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Started school
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Became a teenager
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Could drive
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1926Could vote
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Turned 21
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1934Died at 26
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
Key Achievements
- Helped orchestrate John Dillinger's escape from the 'escape-proof' Crown Point, Indiana, jail in 1934.
- Was named the FBI's 'Public Enemy Number One' following the death of John Dillinger.
- Was involved in the robbery of over a dozen banks across the Midwest.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Baby Face' was given by the press; he reportedly hated it.
He was the first criminal to kill an FBI agent in the line of duty, killing Special Agent W. Carter Baum.
Despite his reputation, he was only 5 feet 4 inches tall.
His body was identified by fingerprints after his death, as he was carrying no identification.
“The only law I recognize comes from the end of this barrel.”
