Machine Gun Kelly
1900 – 1954

Machine Gun Kelly

American gangster (1895/1900–1954)

smugglergangsterbusinessperson
Born
1900-07-18, Memphis
Died
1954-07-18
Birthplace state
Tennessee

Biography

George Kelly Barnes, better known by his nickname Machine Gun Kelly, was an American gangster from Memphis, Tennessee, active during the Prohibition era. His nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thompson submachine gun. He is best known for the kidnapping of oil tycoon and businessman Charles F. Urschel in July 1933, from which he and his gang collected a $200,000 ransom. Urschel had collected and left considerable evidence that assisted the subsequent investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which eventually led to Kelly's arrest in Memphis on September 26, 1933. His crimes also included bootlegging and armed robbery.

Occupation

Machine Gun Kelly is recorded as a smuggler, a gangster and a businessperson, born in Tennessee (1900–1954).

Connections to Tennessee

Machine Gun Kelly was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1900. Explore other notable figures from Tennessee, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Tennessee›Tennesseehistory ›Historic sites in Tennessee›
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Machine Gun Kelly came from Memphis. A full Aubrey report on Memphis pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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More notable figures from Tennessee

Other historical figures born in Tennessee, ranked by historical prominence.

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James M. Buchanan
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Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull
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Dixie Carter
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Frequently asked about Machine Gun Kelly

Who was Machine Gun Kelly?
Machine Gun Kelly was American gangster (1895/1900–1954), born in Tennessee (1900 – 1954).
When and where was Machine Gun Kelly born?
Machine Gun Kelly was born on 1900-07-18 in Memphis.
When did Machine Gun Kelly die?
Machine died on 1954-07-18.
What was Machine Gun Kelly known for?
Machine Gun Kelly is recorded as a smuggler, a gangster and a businessperson.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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