Allan Pinkerton: The Scottish Immigrant Who Became Lincoln's Top Detective
Allan Pinkerton, who was born in Glasgow on August 25, 1819, emerged as a significant figure in American law enforcement. After escaping Scotland in 1842, he made his home in Dundee, Illinois, where he established a cooperage. His efforts in apprehending counterfeiters led to his appointment as deputy sheriff in Kane and Cook Counties. In 1850, he launched the North-Western Police Agency, which evolved into the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, renowned for addressing railroad crimes. The agency employed Kate Warne, the first woman detective, and thwarted the Baltimore Plot against President-elect Abraham Lincoln on February 23, 1861. During the Civil War, Pinkerton directed the Union Intelligence Service. He passed away in 1884, leaving behind a legacy that includes the 'Rogue's Gallery' and notable investigations like the 1911 Mona Lisa theft.
Key facts
- Allan Pinkerton was born on August 25, 1819, in Glasgow, Scotland.
- He immigrated to the United States in 1842 and settled in Dundee, Illinois.
- In 1850, he founded the North-Western Police Agency, later the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.
- The agency hired Kate Warne, the first female detective in U.S. history.
- In 1861, Pinkerton foiled the Baltimore Plot to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln.
- During the Civil War, Pinkerton led the Union Intelligence Service under General George B. McClellan.
- The Pinkerton Agency was involved in the 1892 Homestead Strike, resulting in multiple deaths.
- Pinkerton died in 1884 at age 64; his agency later investigated the 1911 Mona Lisa theft and transported the painting in 1962.
Entities
Artists
- Allan Pinkerton
- Abraham Lincoln
- Kate Warne
- Samuel Morse Felton
- John Wilkes Booth
- George B. McClellan
- Robert E. Lee
- Rose O'Neal Greenhow
- Jefferson Davis
- Jesse James
- Joan Carfrae
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Matthew B. Brady
- Alexander Gardner
- Edward Rucker
- Perry Denniston
- Theodore Denniston
- John Brown
- George McClellan
- E.J. Allen
Institutions
- Pinkerton National Detective Agency
- North-Western Police Agency
- Union Intelligence Service
- Adams Express Company
- Illinois Central Railroad
- Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad
- United States Secret Service
- National Gallery
- Louvre Museum
- The Collector
- Pinkerton and Company
- United States Postal Service
- United States Intelligence Service
- Secret Service
- Underground Railroad
- Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Company
- Library of Congress
- Wikimedia Commons
- Flickr
Locations
- Glasgow
- Scotland
- Dundee
- Illinois
- United States
- Kane County
- Cook County
- Chicago
- Baltimore
- Maryland
- Washington DC
- Pennsylvania
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Ford's Theater
- Antietam
- Bull Run
- Detroit
- Harpers Ferry
- Antietam Battlefield