Jonathan Wild
The Architect of the Underworld
May 8, 2016
It is frequently argued that Jonathan Wild serves as the problematic prototype for the modern detective. In early 18th-century England—a society without a formal police force—Wild became the first to commoditize private investigation. His business model was as ingenious as it was predatory: he would charge a “finder’s fee” to locate and return stolen property to its rightful owners.
“Wild proved that in the 18th century, the most effective detective was often the one who knew the thieves by name.”
By 1715, Wild had masterfully exploited the Parliamentary Reward System, assuming the title of “Thief-taker.” Because he was already a central figure in the criminal underworld, he maintained an exhaustive knowledge of who committed which thefts; consequently, “solving” a crime was often as simple as retrieving an item from his own network of thieves.
Wild’s genius lay in his ability to capitalize on both sides of the law. He publicly functioned as a “public-spirited vigilante,” while privately maintaining a monopoly on London’s crime. He famously kept a ledger of his agents, and it is said that if a thief crossed him, he would mark their name with a cross; a second mark signified they were to be turned over to the authorities for the statutory reward—a practice alleged to be the origin of the term “double-cross.”
Ultimately, Wild proved that in the 18th century, the most effective detective was often the one who knew the thieves by name.