History

Over 160 years of innovation: From Protecting Mid-Western Railways to Providing Corporate Risk Management to Clients Across the Globe

Pinkerton, the Man

1819 —

Allan Pinkerton is born August 25 in Glasgow, Scotland

1842 —

Allan Pinkerton immigrates to the US, settles near Chicago and went to work making barrels

1847 —

Allan Pinkerton joins the Chicago police department

1849 —

Allan Pinkerton is appointed as Chicago’s first police detective

1850 —

The first Pinkerton office opens at 80 Washington Street, Chicago, IL

Pinkerton, the Company

1850 —

The Pinkerton Detective Agency is formed and with it the birth of a noble profession

1850 —

The Pinkerton Code is created:

• Accept no bribes
• Never compromise with criminals
• Partner with local law enforcement agencies
• Refuse divorce cases or cases that initiate scandals
• Turn down reward money (Agents were well paid)
• Never raise fees without the client’s pre-knowledge
• Keep clients apprised on an on-going basis

1853 —

Pinkerton Detective Agency works with law enforcement to arrest criminals anywhere in the country

1855 —

Pinkerton specializes in protecting railroad shipments for several mid-western railways 

1856 —

Kate Warne is hired by Pinkerton and becomes the first female detective in the U.S.

“In my service you will serve your country better than on the field. I have several female operatives. If you agree to come aboard you will go in training with the head of my female detectives, Kate Warne. She has never let me down.” - ALLAN PINKERTON

1861 —

In the hour of peril, Pinkerton uncovers and foils an assassination plot on the life of Abraham Lincoln and conducts him safely through the ranks of treason to his first inauguration 

1861-1865 —

During the Civil War, Pinkerton serves as head of the Union Intelligence Service which was the forerunner of the U.S. Secret Service

1866 —

The first recorded train robbery takes place and the Pinkerton Agency is called to locate and arrest the culprits

1870’s —

Pinkerton and his agents become legendary during their relentless pursuit of Jesse James, the Younger, the Dalton gangs and Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch

1870’s —

The Pinkerton Agency begins the practice of clipping and filing newspaper stories for reference in investigations. Pinkerton’s collection of mug shots and methodology develops the first criminal database

1871 —

Pinkerton guards are hired to prevent looting after the Great Fire in Chicago

1884 —

With the death of Allan Pinkerton, the agency is taken over by his two sons, Robert and William

1890’s —

By the early 1890s, the Pinkerton National Detective Agency had 2,000 active agents and 30,000 reserves causing the state of Ohio to outlaw the agency, due to the possibility of its being hired out as a "private army" or militia

1899 —

Pinkerton attack disbands Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch

1906 —

Pinkerton now has 20 offices around the country

1907 —

The Agency is inherited by Allan Pinkerton II, the grandson of the founder

1930 —

Robert Pinkerton II, the great grandson of Allan Pinkerton leads the Agency

1960 —

Corporate headquarters moved to downtown New York City; there were 45 offices nationwide

1964-1965 —

Pinkerton gains household recognition due to the New York World’s Fair

1969 —

Pinkerton offices are established in Hong Kong, opening the door to operations throughout Asia

1991 —

Pinkerton launches international expansion plan

1998 —

Pinkerton successfully evacuates 431 expatriates from Indonesia during the Asian Currency Crisis

1999 —

Pinkerton was acquired by Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., the largest security services provider in the world. (Simultaneously, Securitas also acquired the Burns Detective agency.) 

2000 —

Pinkerton celebrates its 150 years of service. In May, to commemorate the occasion, it donated a vast archive of material (over 185 boxes estimated value at $1m) to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

"We are honored that the Library of Congress considers our archives to be of historical significance and are proud to share the details of our organization's past with the nation"  

- DON W. WALKER, Pinkerton's then president

2005 —

Pinkerton mobilizes 313 agents to assist clients in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Wilma

2013 —

The leading innovator of corporate risk management solutions for national and international corporations, Pinkerton now operates in over 100 countries and maintains an exclusive network of fast and reliable global resources