Скачать или смотреть The Legacy of the Pinkerton Agency

The Secret History of America's Most Powerful Private Detective Agency

Did you know there was once a private detective agency so feared that Congress passed a law specifically to stop them? This is the incredible true story of the Pinkerton Detective Agency - a company that went from catching counterfeiters to becoming one of the most controversial forces in American history.

It all began with Allan Pinkerton, a Scottish immigrant and humble barrel-maker who stumbled upon a counterfeiting operation by pure chance. His natural detective skills were so impressive that by the 1850s, he had founded his own agency with the motto "We Never Sleep" - which is where the term "private eye" actually comes from!

The Pinkertons quickly became legendary. During the Civil War, they served as Abraham Lincoln's personal spy network and even uncovered a plot to assassinate the president. After the war, they chased down the most notorious outlaws of the Wild West, including the infamous Jesse James gang.

But fame came with a dark price. Corporations began hiring the Pinkertons not just to catch criminals, but to spy on workers and break up strikes. The agency's reputation took a devastating hit during the 1892 Homestead Strike, when 300 Pinkerton agents engaged in a deadly battle with steelworkers that left 16 people dead.

The public outrage was so intense that Congress passed the Anti-Pinkerton Act of 1893, banning the federal government from ever hiring them again.

You might think that was the end of their story - but you'd be wrong. The Pinkertons adapted, survived, and continue operating today. Modern companies like Amazon and Starbucks have reportedly hired them to monitor unionizing efforts among their workers.

From protecting presidents to infiltrating labor movements, the Pinkerton story reveals a hidden side of American history that most people never learn about. This is the tale of how a Scottish immigrant's detective agency became so powerful that it took an act of Congress to rein them in.

What do you think about private agencies having this much power? Let us know in the comments below!