Which services did the Pinkerton organization offer to businesses and governments?

The Pinkerton National Detective Agency, founded in 1850, provided a range of security and investigative services to both private businesses and government entities.

Services for Businesses

• Railway Security: The agency originally specialized in protecting railroads from theft and apprehending train robbers.12
• Corporate Investigations: They were hired to solve major financial crimes, such as the 1866 Adams Express Company theft.12
• Labor Relations: The agency was frequently employed to oppose labor unions, participating in activities such as those seen during the Homestead Strike and the suppression of the Molly Maguires, a secret organization of coal miners.12

Services for Governments

• Executive Protection: The agency provided high-level security, most notably thwarting an assassination plot against President-elect Abraham Lincoln in 1861.12
• Military Intelligence: During the Civil War, the organization worked for the Union to gather military intelligence within Southern states.2

While the agency was instrumental in early law enforcement efforts, its aggressive tactics against labor unions remain a subject of historical criticism.12