CJS 250 Week 1 Biography of Allan Pinkerton
Biography of Allan Pinkerton
Troy Smith
CJS/250
May 19, 2013
Tom Jones
When it came to detective work Allan Pinkerton and his detective agency was the standard of how detective work was done in America. Before he ever established the first detective agency in United States or before he was ever known as America’s first private eye he was first forced to immigrate to America due to his involvement in radical politics as a young man. He was born near Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland on August 25, 1819 to William Pinkerton and Isobel McQueen. Allan’s father was a police officer who was injured on duty and forced out of his job. His father later died forcing Allan to now have to support his family. Finding work as an apprentice to a barrel maker, Allan was unable to keep this job for a lengthy time due to his involvement with the Chartist Movement. Becoming fearful for his life because of his political involvement, he decided to immigrate to America in 1842. Pinkerton settled down in Dundee outside of Chicago where he married and was credited with being a conductor for the Underground Railroad. As an activist against slavery, he used his established barrel making shop as a safe haven for escaped slaves who were in search of freedom traveling the Underground Railroad North (Allan Pinkerton, 2013). During this time in his life is when Pinkerton became interested in police work and his detective career began by chance. While out gathering wood in the forest, Pinkerton stumbled over a gang of counterfeiters making illegal coins. His actions and efforts with the apprehension of those criminals led to Pinkerton being hired as a deputy for the sheriff’s department. His outstanding police work led to the federal government requesting his assistance with other criminal and fraudulent cases such as investigating counterfeiting, protecting the Post Office from robbery and other specific detective services involving crimes that were taking place at that time
Troy Smith
CJS/250
May 19, 2013
Tom Jones
When it came to detective work Allan Pinkerton and his detective agency was the standard of how detective work was done in America. Before he ever established the first detective agency in United States or before he was ever known as America’s first private eye he was first forced to immigrate to America due to his involvement in radical politics as a young man. He was born near Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland on August 25, 1819 to William Pinkerton and Isobel McQueen. Allan’s father was a police officer who was injured on duty and forced out of his job. His father later died forcing Allan to now have to support his family. Finding work as an apprentice to a barrel maker, Allan was unable to keep this job for a lengthy time due to his involvement with the Chartist Movement. Becoming fearful for his life because of his political involvement, he decided to immigrate to America in 1842. Pinkerton settled down in Dundee outside of Chicago where he married and was credited with being a conductor for the Underground Railroad. As an activist against slavery, he used his established barrel making shop as a safe haven for escaped slaves who were in search of freedom traveling the Underground Railroad North (Allan Pinkerton, 2013). During this time in his life is when Pinkerton became interested in police work and his detective career began by chance. While out gathering wood in the forest, Pinkerton stumbled over a gang of counterfeiters making illegal coins. His actions and efforts with the apprehension of those criminals led to Pinkerton being hired as a deputy for the sheriff’s department. His outstanding police work led to the federal government requesting his assistance with other criminal and fraudulent cases such as investigating counterfeiting, protecting the Post Office from robbery and other specific detective services involving crimes that were taking place at that time