Known Activities
Early Life and Education
William Allen Pinkerton was born in Dundee, Illinois on April 7, 1846, the son of Allan Pinkerton and his wife. The family's roots in the Dundee area predate the founding of the detective agency, which Allan Pinkerton established after settling in the region as a Scottish immigrant. William reportedly attended Notre Dame University at approximately age twenty, suggesting a degree of formal education uncommon for practitioners of his later trade. (Source: alaska-daily-empire-1923-12-11)
Career in the Detective Agency
Following his father's death in 1884, William and his brother Robert A. Pinkerton jointly succeeded to the leadership of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. William made his primary home in Chicago, Illinois, keeping the firm anchored in the Midwest while overseeing its national operations. He became particularly known for his work in bank protection and his efforts to reduce bank robbery across the United States.
According to contemporary accounts, William Allen Pinkerton issued a celebrated public warning to professional bank robbers — a statement that reportedly contributed to a measurable reduction in bank robberies during his tenure. (Source: alaska-daily-empire-1923-12-11) The precise text and circumstances of this warning are not fully documented in sources currently held by The Kiln; researchers interested in this claim may wish to consult holdings at the Chicago History Museum or the Library of Congress Chronicling America collection.
Personal Life
William Allen Pinkerton married Margaret S. Ashling of Adrian, Michigan. She predeceased him, reportedly in 1896. The couple had two daughters: Mrs. Joseph O. Watkins and Mrs. William C. Pullman. (Source: alaska-daily-empire-1923-12-11)
Death
William Allen Pinkerton died suddenly in Los Angeles, California on December 11, 1923, with his nephew at his bedside. He was 77 years old. His death was reported in newspapers across the country, including The Alaska Daily Empire of Juneau, Alaska, a reflection of the national prominence he had achieved over his long career. (Source: alaska-daily-empire-1923-12-11)
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 7, 1846 | Born in Dundee, Illinois |
| c. 1866 | Attended Notre Dame University |
| 1884 | Succeeded father Allan Pinkerton as co-head of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, alongside brother Robert A. Pinkerton |
| 1896 | Death of wife, Margaret S. Ashling Pinkerton |
| December 11, 1923 | Died suddenly in Los Angeles, California |
Notes and Uncertainties
- The Kiln records William Allen Pinkerton's birthplace as Dundee, Illinois. At the time of his birth in 1846, the community had not yet been divided into the separate incorporated villages of East Dundee and West Dundee. Whether the specific location of his birth falls within present-day East Dundee or West Dundee boundaries has not been confirmed in sources reviewed to date.
- The nature and precise wording of his famous "warning to bank robbers" is referenced in his obituary notices but has not been independently verified in sources currently available to The Kiln. This claim is retained with appropriate caution.
- The dates of his brother Robert A. Pinkerton's life are not recorded in the source reviewed here.
Sources
- alaska-daily-empire-1923-12-11 — The Alaska Daily Empire (Juneau, Alaska), December 11, 1923, Image 2. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. URL: https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84020657/1923-12-11/ed-1/?sp=2