The Pinkertons

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

As I was researching the Fenian raids I encountered mention of the Pinkertons working in Canada on behalf of the government in the period 1866 - 1898.  Call in Pinkerton's;  American detectives at work for Canada. David R. Williams, ISBN 1550023063 (1 copy on abebooks.com)

They are an active corporation in Canada even today.  Here is a link for their basic history;

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Pinkertons-Inc-Company-History.html

Some cascity members portray pinkertons so it may be of some interest.  I will be tracking down more of their involvement in Canada.

[litl rooster]

Thugs for hire know no boundries

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Prior to Canada's growth towards independant status, Canadian officials looked on Secret Service matters as an Imperial responsibility.  This was an attitude that died hard.  The seeds were laid during the rebellions of Upper & Lower Canada during 1836-37.  In the late 1850's when Irish Independance began to manifest itself in North America, Canadian politicians could no longer ignore their resposibilities for national survival.  One response was The Militia Act, 1855, which set the foundations for our military structures that remain to this day.

The other response was the creation of a nacent secret service within the united provinces of upper & lower Canada. In Ireland and Jamaica, a system of undercover intelligence based on Stipendiary Magistrates and rural police forces was worked out.  This system was adopted in Canada before Confederation.  John A. MacDonald, later the first Prime Minister of Canada, was Attorney General and Minister of Militia for Canada West. He went to Gilbert McMicken, then the head of the Western Frontier Constabulary. Under this structure secret agents were employed in Canada, AND IN THE US. In America the agents reported through British consuls. One of the most famous was Henri Le Caron, "The Prince of Spies".  Le Caron who wrote a book, Twenty Five Years in the Secret Service, probably inspired the spy writer pseudonym LeCarre.

http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?BioId=40075

In May of 1868, the new Dominion of Canada formed the Dominion Police, which carried on federal law enforcement & secret service responsibilities, until it was merged wth the RNWMP in 1920, under the name RCMP.  Secret service functions were transferred to the RCMP at this time where they remained until the creation of CSIS (The Canadian Security Intelligence Service) on June 21, 1984.

http://www.ohlj.ca/archive/articles/41_23_parnaby_kealey.pdf

More to follow;  In the next segment I will focus on Pinkertons.

[litl rooster]

This looks like a good read thanks for sharing

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I am researching Pinkerton's, and came across this!

http://international.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2003/ms003007.pdf

[litl rooster]

I am sure if you dig deeper you'll find much more in the National Archives.  Pinkerton had a long history still exsisting as a Security Contractor. However they are now owned by a foriegn concern. Even with the  Anti Pinkerton Act of of 1893 they still hold security contracts with the Federal Goverment

[litl rooster]

OKay reserching one of the 2 best known Pinkies I found it pretty interesting



http://www.rebelgraphics.org/wfmhall/pinkertonlaborspy18.html


the ohij link was a good read

[Four-Eyed Buck]

At one point, my wife was a Pinkerton security guard here.........Buck

[GunClick Rick]

Over here i think we call them ~SEALS~  HEY BIN ! ratatat ratatat ratatat ::::::::::::::::::.............................::::::::::::::::::::::::::