Frances Gertrude McGill | |
|---|---|
 McGill in her laboratory, 1942 | |
| Born | Frances Gertrude McGill November 18, 1882 Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | January 21, 1959 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Manitoba |
| Occupations | |
| Known for | Pioneering the use of forensic pathology in Canadian police work |
| Parent(s) | Edward McGill Henrietta Wigmore |
| Relatives |
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Frances Gertrude McGill (November 18, 1882 – January 21, 1959) was a Canadian forensic pathologist, criminologist, bacteriologist, allergologist and allergist. Nicknamed "the Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan" for her deductive skills and public fame,[1] McGill influenced the development of forensic pathology in Canadian police work and was internationally noted for her expertise in the subject.
After completing her medical degree at the University of Manitoba in 1915, McGill moved to Saskatchewan, where she was hired first as the provincial bacteriologist and then as the provincial pathologist. She worked extensively with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and local police forces for more than thirty years, and was instrumental in establishing the first RCMP forensic laboratory. She directed the RCMP laboratory for three years, and trained new RCMP recruits in forensic detection methods. After retiring in 1946, McGill was appointed Honorary Surgeon for the RCMP by the Canadian Minister of Justice, becoming one of the first official female members of the force, and she continued to act as a consultant to the RCMP until her death in 1959.
Alongside her pathological work, McGill operated a private medical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. She was acknowledged as a specialist in allergy testing, and doctors across Saskatchewan referred patients to her care.
McGill is a member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame. After her death, McGill Lake in northern Saskatchewan was named in her honour.
- ^ "Saskatchewan's Frances Gertrude McGill on Canadian Money?". CBC News. November 17, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2018.