Biography of Allan Pinkerton

Biography of Allan Pinkerton

Allan Pinkerton was born in Glasgow, Scotland on August 25, 1819. Mr. Pinkerton spent his childhood years in Scotland, and at age 22 became a very outspoken revolutionary. During his honeymoon he was warned by a close friend that an army was coming and his arrest was the reason. This led to him and his wife migrating to the United States. Mr. Pinkerton and his wife took refuge in Chicago where he found work in the downtown area as a barrel maker.

Pinkerton and wife moved to a small town named Dundee located in Kane County where he opened his own shop. While out gathering wood one day, Pinkerton came across a gang of counterfeiters making coins in the area. Several men were suspected of the forgeries but authorities had not been able to locate any of the counterfeit funds. Mr. Pinkerton assisted officers with the arrest of these men and with another gang which led to him becoming a sheriff of Kane County, Chicago.

After the arrest of the second gang, The town council was so impressed with businessman Pinkerton's way of thinking that they asked him to help them reveal the person in charge of the local counterfeit ring; The Cook County Sheriff was so impressed with this quick-thinking barrel maker (whom they thought was in the wrong business) that quickly offered Mr. Pinkerton a full-time job on his staff as an investigator. . Pinkerton’s work as a detective involved covert activities to ensure that Post Office and railway industry employees remained honest "In a day when many law enforcement officers openly associated with criminals and shared their illegal profits, (Pinkerton's code) reflected the honesty and integrity of the man." Allan Pinkerton promised to:

• accept no bribes;

• never compromise with criminals;

• partner with local law enforcement agencies, when necessary;

• refuse divorce cases or cases that initiated scandals of clients;

• turn down reward money (his agents were paid well);

• never raise fees...