Frances Gertrude McGill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frances Gertrude McGill
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McGill in her laboratory, 1942
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Frances Gertrude McGill
November 18, 1882 Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada
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| Died | January 21, 1959 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Manitoba |
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| Known for | Pioneering the use of forensic pathology in Canadian police work |
| Parent(s) | Edward McGill Henrietta Wigmore |
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Frances Gertrude McGill (born November 18, 1882 – died January 21, 1959) was a Canadian expert in solving mysteries. She was a forensic pathologist, which means she studied bodies to find out how people died. She was also a criminologist, someone who studies crime, and a bacteriologist, who studies tiny living things like bacteria. People called her "the Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan" because she was so good at finding clues. McGill helped create modern police science in Canada. Her skills were known around the world.
After finishing her medical degree in 1915, McGill moved to Saskatchewan. She first worked as the province's bacteriologist. Later, she became the provincial pathologist. For over 30 years, she worked closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and local police. She helped set up the first RCMP forensic laboratory. She even directed this lab for three years. McGill also taught new RCMP officers how to use forensic science. After she retired in 1946, the Canadian Minister of Justice made her an Honorary Surgeon for the RCMP. This made her one of the first official female members of the force. She kept helping the RCMP as a consultant until she died in 1959.
Besides her work with the police, McGill also had a private medical practice. She helped people who had allergies. She was known as a top expert in allergy testing. Doctors from all over Saskatchewan sent their patients to her.
McGill is a member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame. After she died, a lake in northern Saskatchewan was named McGill Lake to honor her.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Frances Gertrude McGill was born on November 18, 1882. Her hometown was Minnedosa, Manitoba. Her parents were Edward McGill and Henrietta Wigmore. Both of her parents had Irish family roots in Canada. Her mother, Henrietta, used to be a teacher. She had even traveled around the world for a teaching job. Her father, Edward, was involved in local politics. He also worked as the postmaster in Minnedosa.
Frances had two older brothers, Herbert and Harold. She also had a younger sister named Margaret. Harold later became a doctor. He served in the First World War. Margaret became a nurse and joined the army medical team. In 1900, when Frances was 17, her parents got sick. They both died from typhoid fever after drinking bad water. Her oldest brother, Herbert, took care of the family farm. He did this until his younger siblings finished school.
McGill first trained to be a teacher. She taught summer school to earn money for more education. She thought about becoming a lawyer at first. But then she decided to study medicine instead. She paid for much of her schooling with scholarships. In 1915, McGill finished her medical degree. She graduated from the University of Manitoba. She won top awards for her excellent grades and surgical knowledge. She was one of the first women to graduate from medical school there. McGill then did her internship at the Winnipeg General Hospital. She also studied pathology at the provincial lab in Manitoba.
Career as a Scientist
Becoming a Bacteriologist
Frances McGill became very skilled in bacteriology. This is the study of bacteria. In 1918, she was named the provincial bacteriologist for Saskatchewan. She moved to Regina for this job. Her office and lab were in the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. By October of that year, she was busy dealing with the 1918 flu epidemic. McGill and her team quickly made flu shots. They gave them to over 60,000 people in Saskatchewan. McGill also helped treat soldiers returning from the First World War.
Work as a Pathologist
In 1920, McGill became the provincial pathologist for Saskatchewan. By 1922, she was in charge of the provincial laboratory. Her new job involved investigating suspicious deaths. She worked closely with local police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Her investigations often meant a lot of travel. Sometimes she made over 40 trips in one year. McGill sometimes used a snowmobile, dog sled, or even a float plane to get to crime scenes. Once, she even traveled to the Arctic Circle.
People started calling her "the Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan." She became known as a very careful and skilled criminologist. Police officers often called her "Doc." Her personal motto was said to be: "Think like a man, act like a lady and work like a dog." She handled the tough parts of her job with a good sense of humor. She was also a strong and direct witness in court cases. In court, McGill sometimes met a young lawyer named John Diefenbaker. He later became Prime Minister of Canada. They often had lively discussions. In one court hearing, McGill told him, "You ask me sensible questions, Mr. Diefenbaker, and I will give you sensible answers."
RCMP Commissioners praised McGill's "untiring" efforts. They also noted her "excellent" service in their yearly reports. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, McGill had fewer resources. She also had a much smaller staff. In 1933, she managed to stay within a budget of $17,000. This was for testing work that would normally cost over $122,000.
McGill volunteered hundreds of extra hours. She worked evenings and weekends. She helped the RCMP set up their first official forensic lab. It opened in 1937. Even with all her experience, she was not offered the director position. The new lab took over much of her forensic work. For the next few years, she focused on other projects. These included creating a polio serum. She also became an expert in allergy research. As more people heard about her allergy testing skills, doctors sent patients to her. To handle the demand, she hired an assistant. She also opened a private allergy clinic in her apartment after hours.
McGill retired as provincial pathologist on November 17, 1942. She had done over 64,000 lab tests during her career. She continued to work at her allergy clinic two days a week. She also spent more time outdoors and traveling with friends. A few months later, McGill started a new project. She began giving vaccinations to preschool children. She set up clinics in schools across Regina.
Leading the RCMP Forensic Lab
In 1943, the director of the RCMP's forensic lab died in a plane crash. McGill was asked to take his place. She accepted the job part-time. She still ran her allergy clinic in the afternoons.
As the new director, McGill investigated crimes across Saskatchewan. She also gave lectures and training to new police officers. She taught them about pathology and toxicology. These skills included how to identify blood samples. She also taught them how to study crime scenes. And how to properly collect and keep evidence. McGill always told her students to think carefully. She said, "Don't believe all the death certificates you see. There's no reason why a man with heart disease can't have died of strychnine poisoning."
Retirement and Consulting Work
By 1946, McGill had officially retired from directing the RCMP forensic lab. In January of that year, she was named Honorary Surgeon to the RCMP. The Canadian Minister of Justice appointed her. McGill was the first woman to get this title. She was also the first female doctor publicly recognized as an RCMP member. She continued to work for the RCMP as a special consultant. Sometimes, she gave lectures and exams for police officers. She was a very clear and detailed teacher. Her teaching notes were even put into a student textbook in 1952.
Her forensic work and her role as one of the few women in the RCMP gained attention. People across Canada and even overseas noticed her. In 1952, she visited England and Scotland Yard. She was allowed to see their forensic labs. McGill's work sometimes helped solve murders that had been unsolved for years.
Personal Life
McGill did not talk much about her personal life. But many people who knew her believed she had lost a boyfriend in the First World War. She loved spending time with her brothers, sister, and other family. From 1931 to 1933, her nephew Edward lived with her in Regina. He was saving money for university. He later said her advice greatly influenced his life.
She enjoyed hosting meals and playing card games like bridge with friends. She was known for being a good storyteller. McGill loved horseback riding outside the city. Her other hobbies included fishing, camping, and shooting. In 1917, she won a prize in a women's rifle competition. For fun, she often read crime fiction books before bed. During the Second World War, McGill helped the war effort. She knitted wool socks for soldiers fighting overseas. She was a member of several professional clubs. These included the Saskatchewan Medical Society and the Business and Professional Women's Club.
McGill was a member of the Anglican Church. She supported the Conservative political party. She became a strong supporter of John Diefenbaker's political career. He ran for parliament and then for Prime Minister. In 1958, even though she was very sick, McGill left the hospital. She went home just to vote for Diefenbaker in the federal election.
She loved traveling and visited many countries. These included New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, and several European countries.
Death and Legacy
Frances McGill died on January 21, 1959, in Winnipeg. She was 76 years old. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and later pleurisy. Her body was cremated. Her family scattered her ashes at a special place in Cherry Valley, Manitoba. News articles called McGill "one of Canada's best-known criminologists." An editorial said her work and friendships earned her "a measure of immortality." Few other Canadians achieved such lasting fame.
McGill Lake, located north of Lake Athabasca in Saskatchewan, is named in her honor. She is also a member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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McGill in her laboratory, 1942
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Portrait of the McGill children in 1885. From left to right: Harold, Herbert, Margaret (baby) and Frances.
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Frances McGill in 1917
See also
In Spanish: Frances Gertrude McGill para niños
