Exhibit 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

          That the undersigned officers and directors of Northern Trust
Corporation hereby severally constitute and appoint William A. Osborn and Peter
L. Rossiter, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys and agents
with full power to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in
the capacities indicated below a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to
the sale of interests in The Northern Trust Company Thrift-Incentive Plan and
shares of Common Stock of Northern Trust Corporation and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such a Registration Statement and to
file any of the foregoing, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of
substitution and revocation in the premises, and generally to do all such things
in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable
Northern Trust Corporation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and all regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they
may be signed by our said attorneys, or any one of them, to said Registration
Statement, and any and all amendments thereto, and all that said attorneys and
agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned here hereunto executed
this Power of Attorney this 20th day of February, 2001.

/s/ WILLIAM A. OSBORN
- ---------------------
William A. Osborn
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and Director


/s/ PERRY R. PERO
- -----------------
Perry R. Pero
Vice Chairman and Chief Financial
Officer


/s/ HARRY W. SHORT
- ------------------
Harry W. Short
Senior Vice President and Controller



/s/ DUANE L. BURNHAM         /s/ ROBERT C. MC CORMACK
- --------------------         ------------------------
Duane L. Burnham             Robert C. McCormack
Director                     Director

/s/ DOLORES E. CROSS         /s/ EDWARD J. MOONEY
- --------------------         --------------------
Dolores E. Cross             Edward J. Mooney
Director                     Director

/s/ SUSAN CROWN              /s/ HAROLD B. SMITH
- ---------------              -------------------
Susan Crown                  Harold B. Smith
Director                     Director

/s/ ROBERT S. HAMADA         /s/ WILLIAM D. SMITHBURG
- --------------------         ------------------------
Robert S. Hamada             William D. Smithburg
Director                     Director

/s/ BARRY G. HASTINGS        /s/ BIDE L. THOMAS
- ---------------------        ------------------
Barry G. Hastings            Bide L. Thomas
President, Chief Operating   Director
Officer and Director

/s/ ARTHUR L. KELLY
- -------------------
Arthur L. Kelly
Director



STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  )  SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

          I, Victoria Antoni, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the
aforesaid State, do hereby certify that the above-named directors and officers
of Northern Trust Corporation, personally known to me to be the same persons
whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this
day in person, and severally acknowledged that they signed and delivered the
said instrument as their free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes
therein set forth.

          GIVEN under my hand and notarial seal this 20th day of February, 2001.


                                                          /s/ Victoria Antoni
                                                          -------------------
                                                              NOTARY PUBLIC


My Commission Expires:    7/25/03
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