Allan Pinkerton

From protecting President Lincoln to gathering intelligence for General McCllellan, the Pinkerton Agency gained an extraordinary reputation from their work during the Civil War. But who exactly was Pinkerton?

Join University of Edinburgh professor emeritus Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones as he reveals the true story of the world's most famous private detective, the details of his impact, business empire, and private life. In his newest book America's Legendary Detective and the Birth of Private Security Jeffreys-Jones drew on overlooked primary sources to create an authoritative account of the man and the Pinkerton National Detective Agency (PNDA). Jeffreys-Jones will share the story of PNDA's founder and how successive generations of heirs put it at the center of American history for decades. He’ll trace PNDA’s history into the twentieth century and analyze the legacies of Pinkertonism up to the present. From providing intelligence in the Civil War, pursuing high-profile outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and protecting scabs in the Homestead lockout learn how the PNDA earned and lives up to their slogan, “We never sleep.”

Following the presentation and discussion, you’ll be able to ask questions via our online platform.

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