Quick Facts
- Byname:
- Big Jim
- Born:
- 1877, Cosenza, Italy
- Died:
- May 11, 1920, Chicago, Ill., U.S. (aged 43)
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
James Colosimo
American criminal
Also known as: Big Jim
James Colosimo (born 1877, Cosenza, Italy—died May 11, 1920, Chicago, Ill., U.S.) was a crime czar in Chicago from about 1902 until his death, owner of plush brothels, saloons, and a nightclub. Immigrating from Italy in 1895, he rose from poverty through petty crime and pimping to head a chain of brothels. In 1909 he imported Johnny Torrio from New York to head his gang of enforcers. In 1920 Torrio seized control by having Colosimo murdered (allegedly by Al Capone, then Torrio’s henchman).
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.