Robert A. Pinkerton is known primarily through references to him in accounts of his brother William's career and death. The two brothers jointly inherited leadership of the agency upon their father Allan's death in 1884, dividing operational responsibilities between them. Specific dates of birth and death for Robert have not been confirmed in sources currently available to The Kiln.
Known Activities
- Co-leadership of Pinkerton National Detective Agency: According to coverage of William Allen Pinkerton's death in December 1923, Robert A. Pinkerton succeeded to the family detective business alongside his brother William following the death of their father, Allan Pinkerton, in 1884. (Source: alaska_daily_empire_1923-12-11)
- Family connection to Dundee, Illinois: The Pinkerton family's ties to Dundee, Illinois — where William Allen Pinkerton was born on April 7, 1846 — place Robert within the broader story of one of the village's most historically significant families. Whether Robert was also born in Dundee has not been confirmed by sources currently available to The Kiln.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1884 | Allan Pinkerton dies; Robert A. Pinkerton and brother William Allen Pinkerton reportedly succeed to leadership of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency (Source: alaska_daily_empire_1923-12-11) |
| December 11, 1923 | Death of brother William Allen Pinkerton in Los Angeles, California, as reported by The Alaska Daily Empire and other national press (Source: alaska_daily_empire_1923-12-11) |
Related People and Places
- Allan Pinkerton — father; founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency
- William Allen Pinkerton — brother; co-head of the agency; born in Dundee, Illinois, April 7, 1846
- Dundee, Illinois — ancestral home of the Pinkerton family
Research Notes
The primary source available to The Kiln for this entry — a December 11, 1923 obituary notice for William Allen Pinkerton published in The Alaska Daily Empire (Juneau, Alaska) — references Robert A. Pinkerton only in passing, as a co-successor to the family business. Dates of birth and death, personal biography, and the precise nature of Robert's operational role within the agency have not been independently verified through local Dundee or Kane County records at this time. Researchers with access to Chicago-area archives or Pinkerton agency records may be able to expand this entry substantially.
Sources
- alaska_daily_empire_1923-12-11 — The Alaska Daily Empire (Juneau, Alaska), December 11, 1923, Image 2. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. View source