Discover the story of François Vidocq, the pioneer of modern detective work, and how he turned his criminal skills into a weapon to fight crime! ‍

Did you know the first private detective was a former criminal?

<picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_80, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36c6323a-bb05-4555-b0fb-6a4508f6ac5d_428x428.jpeg"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_80,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36c6323a-bb05-4555-b0fb-6a4508f6ac5d_428x428.jpeg" alt="" width="40" height="40"></picture>In the dark alleys of Paris, where chaos and crime prevailed, the name François Vidocq emerged, a man with a mysterious past and an intriguing present. Vidocq lived a life full of adventures and risks, transforming from a professional criminal to a hero who chased criminals and assisted the police.Thanks for reading Ohoud’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.<div><button type="submit" tabindex="0">Subscribe</button></div><h2>A Life of Daring Exploits</h2>with a life story that reads like a thrilling adventure novel. François Vidocq born in 1775 in the northern French town of Arras, son of a master baker.Vidocq's path veered away from respectability early on. His youth was a whirlwind of petty thefts, brawls, and stints in the military.By his early twenties, he'd graduated to full-blown criminal activity, becoming a skilled fencer and forger<h3>Between the prison walls and the madness of freedom</h3>According to Vidocq's memoirs, he wasn't just any criminal - he was a master of escape, having broken free from all the galleys of France and more than twenty prisons.For the next decade, this ex-con, a master of disguise, remained a thorn in the authorities' side. He was arrested and rearrested, always escaping and leaving a trail of bewilderment in his wake. Each time, he'd vanish like a chameleon, reappearing later as a sailor, a milk porter, even a nun – a myriad of identities that confounded his pursuers.His first victims were his hapless parents, whom he burgled on at least two separate occasions by stealing from the till in their profitable bakery and selling the family silver.<figure><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg" width="728" height="679" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2741b335-fa8c-4865-ad97-42956797c91d_800x746.jpeg 1456w"></picture><figcaption class="image-caption" dir="ltr">"Vidocq pursued by gendarmes", engraving by George Cruikshank.Vidocq. Memoirs of Vidocq. The Principal Agent of the French Police. Written by Himself and Translated from the French, Expressly for this Edition. New Orleans: J.C. Morgan &amp; Co., 1859, p. 182. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Cruikshank_-_Vidocq_pursued_by_gendarmes.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" dir="ltr">source</a></figcaption></figure><h3>His Journey from Criminal to Policeman </h3>In 1809, weary of running from his past, he adopted an alias and opened a dry-goods store. However, a peaceful life was not in his cards, as former convicts soon recognized him and began to extort him. It was then that he made the life-altering decision to join the police force.He went to see a man of high position, to propose a deal. Due to his extensive experience in the underworld and his knowledge of all its movements, having rubbed shoulders with all the criminals and knowing their connections.He offered to be a police informant, and promised to solve all the crimes that the police had been unable to crack.And that what happened in just two years, he has solved numerous crimes and helped the police apprehend an entire gang of thieves.Fueled by his success and growing weary of the police's inefficiencies, he demanded the establishment of a new branch of crime-fighting force to wage an all-out war on criminals.<h2>To catch a thief you gotta to be a one .. </h2>In contrast to the uniformed security personnel, Vidocq and his men would disguise themselves to apprehend criminals, embodying the president's philosophy or motto. Vidocq was renowned at the time as a master of disguise, having deceived even those who knew him well.<figure><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg" width="728" height="545" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf25c465-a495-4137-8602-d1f0a1071b0c_800x599.jpeg 1456w"></picture><figcaption class="image-caption" dir="ltr">Illustration of Vidocq arresting brigands in the Forest of Sénart, Essonne, France, ca. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GR_AttaqueSenart_G.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" dir="ltr">Source</a> </figcaption></figure>Disguise is not an art, but a science.In 1817,Vidocq's meteoric rise to local stardom began with a swift execution of 800 arrests.<h3>Combating Crime: A Chronicle of Achievements and Successes</h3>Vidocq laid the foundation for the modern investigative system in France, demonstrating his proven innovation in other fields of detective science.<OL><LI>Vidocq dabbles in fingerprints blood testing and plaster of paris making casts of prints left by a pair of hop nailed boots worn by a notorious burglar.</LI><LI>The first to compile massive files on crooks the master detective a barriers include aliases physical descriptions prior convictions and what police will later term modus operandi<a data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" href="https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/from-felon-to-founder-the-extraordinary#footnote-1-143901664" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" dir="ltr">1</a>.</LI><LI>He meticulously compiled comprehensive records of each crime and its perpetrators, employing his masterful investigative skills to link offenses to their culprits through the analysis of their criminal modus operandi.</LI><LI>He pioneering indelible documents and ink to combat his adversaries, and employed two individuals to execute this endeavor. Subsequently, he shrewdly sold his invention to banks, amassing a substantial fortune in the process.</LI><LI>Vidocq established the world's first detective agency in 1832. Aptly named "Le Bureau des Renseignements" or "Office of Inquiries". However, after eleven years of operation, the agency was forced to close its doors.</LI><LI>In 1827, he published his memoirs, which became a best-selling book not only in France but also around the world.</LI></OL><h3>The Passing of Eugène François Vidocq</h3>On May 11, 1857, Eugène François Vidocq, drew his last breath. Some historians believe he died impoverished, with hunger, rather than old age, being the true cause of his demise at the age of 82.Despite his purported financial struggles, Vidocq bequeathed a generous donation to the poor, cementing his legacy as a compassionate man who never forgot those in need, even in the face of adversity.<h2>Vidocq's Tarnished Legacy: A Battle Against Adversity</h2>Vidocq's relationship with the French police was marked by relentless animosity, as they perceived him as a formidable threat to their authority. Driven by envy and resentment, the police relentlessly sought to discredit Vidocq, both during his lifetime and after his death. They leveraged their influence and extensive reach to tarnish his accomplishments and spread false rumors about him.Their smear campaign proved remarkably successful, effectively erasing Vidocq's name from most official records and leaving his legacy teetering on the brink of oblivion.Even so, he inspired countless writers and fictional detectives, including Victor Hugo's iconic character Javert in "Les Misérables".<figure><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_webp, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg" width="728" height="979" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/c_limit, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/f_auto, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/q_auto:good, https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1cd9cd7a-d513-4f4f-94ee-38a696f77bf9_800x1076.jpeg 1456w"></picture><figcaption class="image-caption" dir="ltr">a poster for the 1923 film Vidocq. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ren%C3%A9_Navarre_dans_Vidocq_-_affiche.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" dir="ltr">Source</a></figcaption></figure>Eugène François Vidocq's life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice and his exceptional investigative prowess. His groundbreaking work transformed the landscape of criminal investigation, leaving an indelible mark on the pursuit of truth and the protection of society.

In the dark alleys of Paris, where chaos and crime prevailed, the name François Vidocq emerged, a man with a mysterious past and an intriguing present. Vidocq lived a life full of adventures and risks, transforming from a professional criminal to a hero who chased criminals and assisted the police.

In the dark alleys of Paris, where chaos and crime prevailed, the name François Vidocq emerged, a man with a mysterious past and an intriguing present. Vidocq lived a life full of adventures and risks, transforming from a professional criminal to a hero who chased criminals and assisted the police.

Thanks for reading Ohoud’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

with a life story that reads like a thrilling adventure novel. François Vidocq born in 1775 in the northern French town of Arras, son of a master baker.

Vidocq's path veered away from respectability early on. His youth was a whirlwind of petty thefts, brawls, and stints in the military.

By his early twenties, he'd graduated to full-blown criminal activity, becoming a skilled fencer and forger

Between the prison walls and the madness of freedom

According to Vidocq's memoirs, he wasn't just any criminal - he was a master of escape, having broken free from all the galleys of France and more than twenty prisons.

For the next decade, this ex-con, a master of disguise, remained a thorn in the authorities' side. He was arrested and rearrested, always escaping and leaving a trail of bewilderment in his wake. Each time, he'd vanish like a chameleon, reappearing later as a sailor, a milk porter, even a nun – a myriad of identities that confounded his pursuers.

His first victims were his hapless parents, whom he burgled on at least two separate occasions by stealing from the till in their profitable bakery and selling the family silver.

Memoirs of Vidocq. The Principal Agent of the French Police

In 1809, weary of running from his past, he adopted an alias and opened a dry-goods store. However, a peaceful life was not in his cards, as former convicts soon recognized him and began to extort him. It was then that he made the life-altering decision to join the police force.

He went to see a man of high position, to propose a deal. Due to his extensive experience in the underworld and his knowledge of all its movements, having rubbed shoulders with all the criminals and knowing their connections.

He offered to be a police informant, and promised to solve all the crimes that the police had been unable to crack.

And that what happened in just two years, he has solved numerous crimes and helped the police apprehend an entire gang of thieves.

Fueled by his success and growing weary of the police's inefficiencies, he demanded the establishment of a new branch of crime-fighting force to wage an all-out war on criminals.

To catch a thief you gotta to be a one ..

In contrast to the uniformed security personnel, Vidocq and his men would disguise themselves to apprehend criminals, embodying the president's philosophy or motto. Vidocq was renowned at the time as a master of disguise, having deceived even those who knew him well.

Disguise is not an art, but a science.

In 1817,Vidocq's meteoric rise to local stardom began with a swift execution of 800 arrests.

Combating Crime: A Chronicle of Achievements and Successes

Vidocq laid the foundation for the modern investigative system in France, demonstrating his proven innovation in other fields of detective science.

<ol><li>Vidocq dabbles in fingerprints blood testing and plaster of paris making casts of prints left by a pair of hop nailed boots worn by a notorious burglar. </li><li>The first to compile massive files on crooks the master detective a barriers include aliases physical descriptions prior convictions and what police will later term modus operandi <a href="https://ohoudsadoun.substack.com/p/from-felon-to-founder-the-extraordinary#footnote-1-143901664">1 </a> . </li><li>He meticulously compiled comprehensive records of each crime and its perpetrators, employing his masterful investigative skills to link offenses to their culprits through the analysis of their criminal modus operandi. </li><li>He pioneering indelible documents and ink to combat his adversaries, and employed two individuals to execute this endeavor. Subsequently, he shrewdly sold his invention to banks, amassing a substantial fortune in the process. </li><li>Vidocq established the world's first detective agency in 1832. Aptly named " Le Bureau des Renseignements " or " Office of Inquiries ". However, after eleven years of operation, the agency was forced to close its doors. </li><li>In 1827, he published his memoirs, which became a best-selling book not only in France but also around the world. </li> </ol>

On May 11, 1857, Eugène François Vidocq, drew his last breath. Some historians believe he died impoverished, with hunger, rather than old age, being the true cause of his demise at the age of 82.

Despite his purported financial struggles, Vidocq bequeathed a generous donation to the poor, cementing his legacy as a compassionate man who never forgot those in need, even in the face of adversity.

Vidocq's Tarnished Legacy: A Battle Against Adversity

Vidocq's relationship with the French police was marked by relentless animosity, as they perceived him as a formidable threat to their authority. Driven by envy and resentment, the police relentlessly sought to discredit Vidocq, both during his lifetime and after his death. They leveraged their influence and extensive reach to tarnish his accomplishments and spread false rumors about him.

Their smear campaign proved remarkably successful, effectively erasing Vidocq's name from most official records and leaving his legacy teetering on the brink of oblivion.

Even so, he inspired countless writers and fictional detectives, including Victor Hugo's iconic character Javert in "Les Misérables".

Eugène François Vidocq's life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice and his exceptional investigative prowess. His groundbreaking work transformed the landscape of criminal investigation, leaving an indelible mark on the pursuit of truth and the protection of society.

From Felon to Founder: The Extraordinary Life of Eugène François Vidocq

Did you know the first private detective was a former criminal?

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