Red, White, and Sleuth—Private Investigators in Early America
As we gather to celebrate Independence Day, honoring the courage and grit of those who shaped our nation, it's a fitting moment to reflect on another group of American pioneers—early private detectives.
At Westbrook Investigations & Consulting, our work is rooted in a legacy that goes back much further than modern surveillance tools and online databases. The spirit of investigation, justice, and accountability has long been woven into the American fabric—and in many ways, the private detective profession was born out of that same independent spirit that gave rise to our country.
The Origins of Private Detectives in America
The private investigation profession began to take shape in the mid-19th century, in response to a need for law enforcement services that extended beyond what local and state agencies could provide. At the time, the American West was still developing, cities were booming, and crime was becoming more complex and far-reaching.
Allan Pinkerton, a Scottish immigrant, is widely credited with founding the first private detective agency in the United States. In 1850, he established the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, whose motto, "We Never Sleep," was paired with an all-seeing eye that would later inspire the term "private eye."
Pinkerton detectives played pivotal roles in:
Protecting Abraham Lincoln from an assassination plot before he even took office,
Tracking down train robbers and outlaws in the lawless frontier,
And even infiltrating labor unions during strikes (a controversial chapter that reminds us how complex the history of private investigations truly is).
Before Pinkerton: Colonial Sleuthing and Civilian Investigation
Even before formal agencies existed, early American communities often relied on civilian investigators—individuals hired by families, business owners, or local governments to uncover wrongdoing. These proto-investigators were tasked with finding stolen property, exposing fraud, or bringing moral offenders to justice in tightly knit colonial towns.
They weren’t always professionals as we think of them today—but their work laid the groundwork for a field that would eventually require intelligence, discretion, and above all, trust.
A Tradition of Independence and Integrity
Private investigators have long filled the gap between public need and public resources. In the spirit of American independence, early PIs carved out a profession that thrived not by enforcing the law, but by uncovering the truth. They operated outside traditional law enforcement—offering clients discretion, thoroughness, and focus.
That same tradition drives us at Westbrook Investigations today. We may no longer be chasing train robbers on horseback, but the core values remain: truth, accountability, and service.
From Then to Now: Carrying the Torch
Today’s private investigators are licensed professionals with access to powerful technology, but the foundation of what we do is the same as it was 175 years ago. We gather facts. We serve justice. We provide answers when others can’t—or won’t.
This Fourth of July, as the sky lights up with fireworks, we honor the pioneers of our profession who made it possible to do this important work. And we recommit ourselves to the principles that built this country—and this career: independence, integrity, and service to others.
From all of us at Westbrook Investigations & Consulting,
Happy Independence Day.
