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William Duncan McNally

1882 – 1961

(1882-1961) American chemist

Chemist Toxicologist
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About William Duncan McNally

Lived 1882 – 1961 (aged 78). William Duncan McNally was an American chemist and toxicologist.

Chemist, Dr. William Duncan McNally, and H. J. Carlin, sitting in a room in 1916

William Duncan McNally (July 8, 1882 – June 29, 1961) was the chief chemist in the Cook County Department of Public Health and the chief chemist for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. He invented an early breathalyzer in 1927.

He was a holder of M.D.

Biography

William Duncan McNally was born on July 8, 1882, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Elizabeth and Edward Henry McNally. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1905.

He married Helen Marie Pierce on September 22, 1906, in Chicago, Illinois. By 1911 he was working as a chemist at Armour and Company in East St. Louis, Illinois.

By 1918 he was the toxicologist for the Cook County Department of Public Health. He invented an early breathalyzer in 1927.

He died on June 29, 1961, in Mobile, Alabama.

Works Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology (1939) Toxicology (1937)

Footnotes

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Michigan
Employers
Armour and Company, Cook County

People in William Duncan McNally's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Duncan McNally's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Duncan McNally?

(1882-1961) American chemist

When was William Duncan McNally born?

William Duncan McNally was born on 8 July 1882 in Saginaw.

When did William Duncan McNally die?

William Duncan McNally died on 29 June 1961 in Mobile.

What was William Duncan McNally's occupation?

William Duncan McNally was a chemist and toxicologist.

What nationality was William Duncan McNally?

William Duncan McNally was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Duncan McNally

· Wikidata: Q21664743

· DBpedia: William Duncan McNally

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Duncan McNally. https://biography.guide/william-duncan-mcnally/

MLA: "William Duncan McNally." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-duncan-mcnally/.

Chicago: "William Duncan McNally." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-duncan-mcnally/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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