Allan Pinkerton
/ˌælən ˈpɪŋkətən/
/ˌælən ˈpɪŋkərtn/
- (1819-84) an American, born in Scotland, who established the first US company of private detectives . He began the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1850 in Chicago. Its advertisements showed a large eye, with the words 'We never sleep'. Pinkerton also established a US organization during the Civil War which later became the US Secret Service. The company today operates in 20 countries and provides protection for large companies.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Check pronunciation:
Allan Pinkerton