The Spiritualists and the Detectives

Allan Pinkerton (1819–1884) was an influential figure in the development of the detective profession in the United States. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Pinkerton immigrated to the US in 1842, where he initially worked as a barrel maker. His discovery of a counterfeiting operation led to his appointment as the first detective in Chicago. In 1850, he founded Pinkerton National Detective Agency, which ...