Who was Allan Pinkerton? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 64

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Joan Pinkerton (m. 1842-1884)

father: William Pinkerton

mother: Isobel McQueen

children: Robert Pinkerton, William Pinkerton

Born Country: Scotland

Atheists American Men

Died on: July 1, 1884

place of death: Chicago, Illinois, United States

City: Glasgow, Scotland

Recommended For You

1

What was Allan Pinkerton's role in the formation of the Secret Service?

Allan Pinkerton played a crucial role in the formation of the Secret Service during the American Civil War, where he was appointed as the first detective in the service.
2

How did Allan Pinkerton contribute to the development of modern investigative techniques?

Allan Pinkerton is known for developing various investigative techniques, such as undercover work, surveillance, and the use of handwriting analysis, which laid the foundation for modern investigative practices.
3

What was the significance of Allan Pinkerton's role in thwarting the assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln?

Allan Pinkerton played a key role in uncovering and thwarting an assassination plot against President Abraham Lincoln in 1861, showcasing his dedication to protecting important figures in American history.
4

How did Allan Pinkerton's detective agency impact law enforcement in the United States?

Allan Pinkerton's detective agency, known as the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, revolutionized law enforcement by introducing innovative methods and establishing the first private detective agency in the U.S.
5

What was the legacy of Allan Pinkerton in the field of criminal investigation?

Allan Pinkerton's legacy in the field of criminal investigation is marked by his pioneering work in establishing investigative techniques, shaping the course of law enforcement, and inspiring future generations of detectives and investigators.

Recommended Lists:

American People

Scottish People

Scottish Men

Childhood & Early Life

Allan was born on August 25, 1819 to Isobel McQueen and William Pinkerton at Glasgow, Scotland. Allan’s home, which is also his place of birth, was demolished later and the famous Glasgow Central Mosque was erected at the site.

Continue Reading Below

Career

Allan was a cooper by profession, and was also an active member of the British Chartist movement at the same time. The movement was an initiative of the working class to bring few political reforms in the country.

Allan migrated to the United States in 1842. He continued his profession as a cooper even during his early days in the United States. Allan had set up a cooperage near Dundee, Illinois, to carry out this business.

After working for abolitionist leaders for some time, Allan was officially appointed as a detective in Chicago. A year later, in 1850, Allan collaborated with Chicago Attorney Edward Rucker to form the ‘North Western Police Agency’ which came to be known later as ‘Pinkerton National Detective Agency’.

Allan was appointed the head of the Union Intelligence Service during the American Civil War years of 1861-62. He played a pivotal role in preventing an attempt to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln at Maryland in his tenure.

Allan worked as an undercover agent by name ‘Major E.J Smith’, and so did his associates, in a bid to gather military intelligence at the time of the Civil war. This department of undercover agents was later renamed as the ‘U.S Secret Service’.

Post-Civil War, Allan was given responsibilities of nabbing criminals such as Jesse James, who frequently robbed trains and created ruckus. However this time, Allan not only failed to nab the criminal, but also lost one of his agents who was killed by Jesse James. Allan was criticized for being inefficient and the assignment turned out to be the worst chapter of Allan’s career.

One controversy surrounding Allan Pinkerton’s career is that the latter was assigned the task of suppressing a revolution to end slavery by the Spanish government. It’s not clear whether Allan agreed to this since he favoured abolition of slavery in the early days of his career.

Major Works

Allan Pinkerton is the author of a book ‘Spy of The Rebellion’ which was released in 1883. This book which was based on Allan’s real-life experiences as a detective has been the subject of many controversies. Many criticize Pinkerton’s intention of writing the book as a way to promote his agency. It’s also alleged that Allan had hired a ghost writer to pen this book.

Personal Life & Legacy

Allan married singer Joan Carfrae in 1842, before the couple moved to America together. He stayed away from his wife for about a year while he was setting up the cooperage in Illinois during their initial days at the United States.

Pinkerton died on July 1, 1884 in Chicago at the age of 64. The cause of his death has been a reason of debate amongst various researchers. Few claim that Allan was a victim of Gangrene, which was the result of his fall on the pavement during which he bit his tongue. According to few other sources, the man had fallen prey to stroke, which became the cause of death.

After his death, the workers of his agency misused the enterprise and paved way for a series of strikes against the labour movement. Some of these anti-labour movements were the ‘Homestead Strike’, ‘The Pullman Strike’, and ‘The Ludlow Massacre’. Allan Pinkerton was, however, totally against the concept of strikes and agitations.

Facts About Allan Pinkerton

Allan Pinkerton, known as the "father of American private detective agency," once foiled an assassination attempt on President-elect Abraham Lincoln in 1861, showcasing his dedication to protecting public figures and upholding the law.

Pinkerton was a master of disguise and often went undercover to gather information for his cases, demonstrating his ingenuity and resourcefulness in solving crimes.

Pinkerton was a pioneer in using female detectives in his agency, recognizing the unique skills and perspectives that women could bring to investigative work.

Pinkerton's agency played a key role in the capture of notorious outlaws such as Jesse James and the Reno Gang, highlighting his commitment to pursuing justice and bringing criminals to account.

Pinkerton was a strong advocate for workers' rights and established a network of agents to combat labor unrest and protect employees from exploitation, showcasing his progressive views on social justice issues.

Allan Pinkerton Biography

You wanted to know

What was Allan Pinkerton's role in the formation of the Secret Service?

How did Allan Pinkerton contribute to the development of modern investigative techniques?

What was the significance of Allan Pinkerton's role in thwarting the assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln?

How did Allan Pinkerton's detective agency impact law enforcement in the United States?

What was the legacy of Allan Pinkerton in the field of criminal investigation?