Stanley Finch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stanley Finch
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| Chief of the Bureau of Investigation | |
| In office July 26, 1908 – April 30, 1912 |
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| President | Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | A. Bruce Bielaski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 20, 1872 Monticello, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 22, 1951 (aged 79) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | George Washington University (LLB, LLM) |
Stanley Wellington Finch (born July 20, 1872 – died November 22, 1951) was a very important person in American history. He was the first chief of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI). This agency later grew into the famous FBI that we know today. Finch led the BOI from 1908 to 1912.
Stanley Finch's Early Life and Career
Stanley Finch was born in a town called Monticello, New York, in 1872. When he grew up, he started working for the United States Department of Justice. This is a government department that helps make sure laws are followed. Finch worked there for almost 40 years, on and off.
He started as a clerk, which is a job that involves keeping records and doing office tasks. Over time, he worked his way up. Between 1893 and 1908, he became a chief examiner. While working, he also went to school. He earned two law degrees from what is now The George Washington University Law School. He got his first law degree in 1908 and a higher law degree in 1909. In 1911, he was allowed to practice law in Washington, D.C..
How the FBI Began
Before the Bureau of Investigation existed, the Justice Department had a problem. When they needed to investigate a crime, they had to borrow detectives. These detectives came from the United States Secret Service. The Secret Service usually works for the Treasury Department.
Stanley Finch had a great idea. As chief examiner, he thought it would be better if the Justice Department had its own team of detectives. This way, they wouldn't have to borrow people from other departments. He strongly suggested creating this new group.
The Attorney General at the time, Charles Joseph Bonaparte, agreed with Finch. He created a special group of agents. He put Stanley Finch in charge of this new force. This group was later named the Bureau of Investigation (BOI). This is how the agency that would become the FBI first started, thanks to Stanley Finch.
Later Years
After leaving his role as chief of the Bureau of Investigation in 1912, Stanley Finch worked in different jobs. From 1913 into the 1930s, he sometimes worked in private businesses. He was mainly involved in making new and interesting products. He also returned to work for the Department of Justice at other times. Stanley Finch finally retired from the Department of Justice in 1940.
