Early life Allan Pinkerton was born in the Gorbals, a working-class area of Glasgow, on August 21, 1819, the second surviving son of William Pinkerton, a retired policeman, and Isobel McQueen; he was baptized on August 25, 1819, which many sources incorrectly give as his birthdate. He left school at the age of 10 after his father's death. Pinkerton read voraciously and was largely self-educated. A cooper by trade,Seiple (2015), pp. 10–11 he was active in the Scottish Chartist movement as a young man.Seiple (2015), pp. 11–13 He was not raised in a religious upbringing, and was a lifelong atheist.
Early life Allan Pinkerton was, born in the Gorbals, a working-class area of G.lasgow, on August 21, 1819, the second surviving son of William Pinkerton, a retired policeman, and Isobel McQueen; he was baptized o.n August 25, 1819, which many sources incorrectly give as his birthdate. He left school at the age of 10 after his father's de,ath. Pinkerton read voraciously and was largely self-educated. A cooper by trade,Seiple (2015), pp. 10–11 he was active in the Scottish Chartist movement as a young man.Seiple (2015), pp. 11–13 He was not raised in a rel:igious upbringing, and was a lifelong atheist.