Dating back thousands of years, private investigation has existed for as long as people have needed it. The earliest record of spying can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible. In the Book of Numbers, God tells Moses to send men to spy on Canaan during the Jews’ long journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Indeed, private investigation is not a new occupation by any means. Keep reading to learn more about the rich history of private investigators.
The First Private Investigation Agency
In 1833, the first known private investigative agency was established by Eugène François Vidocq. Eugène was a French soldier, privateer, and criminal, who founded Le bureau des renseignments (the Office of Intelligence). Like Eugène, his employees had sketchy backgrounds with law enforcement, such as being ex-convicts. To no surprise, French law enforcement tried to shut down their agency numerous times.
Nine years later, Eugène was arrested because he accepted money under false pretenses after solving an embezzlement case. He was sentenced to 5 years of prison and a hefty fine, but was eventually released by the Court of Appeals.
Aside from his vivid criminal history, Eugène made history due to him introducing record-keeping, criminology, and ballistics to criminal investigation. He also helped develop plaster casts used for shoe prints, as well as invented indelible ink and unalterable bond paper. Additionally, today’s private investigators and the French police still glean certain aspects of his approach to anthropometrics (study of the human body and its movement) when solving cases.
The Development of Private Investigators
In the old days, people hired private investigators to help them do things that the local law enforcement were unable or not willing to do. In most cases, these clients were wealthy owners who hired investigators to handle issues with their workers. Essentially, private investigators were tasked with controlling workers and maintaining peace. Investigators also provided private security services for clients.
Private Investigators in the U.S.
In 1984, history was made when a man named Allan Pinkerton became the first police detective in Chicago, Illinois. He was appointed this honorary title after providing key information about a group of criminals to his local sheriff.
A year later, Pinkerton partnered with a Chicago lawyer named Edward Rucker. The two men established the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, which now is known as Pinkerton Consulting and Investigators. The term private eye is said to have come from Pinkerton’s business emblem, which was an open eye that read “We never sleep.”
Later on, Pinkerton was appointed as the head of the Union Intelligence Service during the Civil War. This is significant for two primary reasons. For on, this agency eventually evolved into today’s Secret Service in the United States. The other reason is that Pinkerton helped avoid an assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln. Indeed, Pinkerton and his men went undercover as Confederate army members and sympathizers, which allowed them to gather essential military intelligence.
Fast forward to today, private investigators still play an essential role among society. Their expert services provide crucial information for solving cases, assisting with criminal investigations, and finding missing persons. As technology continues to develop, private investigators will also evolve to ensure that they can do their part to create safer communities. Contact PATRIOT Backgrounds and Investigations today to learn how the experts with decades of police officer experience can help you.
