Representative Niels Juul

Niels Juul (April 27, 1859 – December 4, 1929) was a Danish-born American lawyer, state senator, and U.S. Representative from Illinois. He was born and raised in Denmark, where he spent his early years before emigrating to the United States. His European upbringing and subsequent naturalization in America shaped a career that bridged immigrant experience and public service in his adopted country.

After arriving in the United States, Juul settled in Chicago, Illinois, which would remain the center of his professional and political life. He pursued legal studies and was admitted to the bar, beginning the practice of law in Chicago. His legal work brought him into contact with the city’s growing immigrant communities and commercial interests, and he became active in Republican Party politics. Through his professional reputation and party involvement, he advanced steadily in public life and was eventually elected to the Illinois State Senate, where he gained legislative experience and visibility as a Republican leader.

Building on his state-level service, Juul was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives from Illinois. He served as a Representative in the United States Congress from 1917 to 1921, completing two terms in office. His tenure in the House coincided with a significant period in American history, including the final years of World War I and the immediate postwar era. As a member of the House of Representatives, Niels Juul participated in the democratic process, contributed to the legislative work of Congress, and represented the interests of his Illinois constituents during a time of major national and international change.

At the conclusion of his congressional service in 1921, Juul was appointed by President Warren G. Harding as United States Collector of Customs for the Port of Chicago. He assumed this federal post on January 1, 1921, overseeing customs operations in one of the nation’s most important inland ports. He served in that capacity until December 31, 1922, when he resigned. His work as Collector of Customs reflected both his legal background and his familiarity with Chicago’s commercial and transportation networks.

Following his resignation from the customs post, Juul resumed the practice of law in Chicago. He continued to be a respected figure in the city’s legal and civic circles, drawing on decades of experience in both state and federal government. Niels Juul died at Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago on December 4, 1929. His career, spanning immigration, law, state legislation, national office, and federal administration, reflected the opportunities and responsibilities embraced by an immigrant who rose to prominence in American public life.