William J. Flynn

William J. Flynn (1867 New York City - October 14, 1928 Larchmont, New York) was the director of the Bureau of Investigation from July 1, 1919 to August 21, 1921.

He began his government career in 1897 after receiving a public school education. His first assignment was as an Agent in the United States Secret Service. Flynn gained recognition in 1911 when he successfully reorganized the New York City Detective force and returned to the Secret Service as Chief {1912-1917}. During World War I, he served as Chief of the United States Railroad Secret Service, investigating threats of sabotage.

In 1919, Flynn was named director of the Bureau of Investigation. Attorney General Palmer praised his new appointee as "the leading, organizing detective of America...Flynn is an anarchist chaser...the greatest anarchist expert in the United States." On September 27, 1921, Flynn resigned saying he had a "private business matter to accept." Attorney General Harry Daugherty accepted the resignation immediately and appointed William J. Burns to the position.

Flynn died of a heart attack in 1928.

References

* [http://www.fbi.gov/libref/directors/flynn.htm Biograph of William J. Flynn] at the Federal Bureau of Investigation
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/fbi/whois_flynn.html William J. Flynn] at CBS News
* [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/fbi_hist.htm History of the Federal Bureau of Investigation] at the "Intelligence Resource Program" of the Federation of American Scientists
* [https://www.cia.gov/csi/studies/vol49no1/html_files/bureaucratic_wragling_2.html "Early Days of the Intelligence Community: Bureaucratic Wrangling over Counterintelligence, 1917–18"] at the Central Intelligence Agency

External links

Succession box
before=William E. Allen
title=Director of the Bureau of Investigation
years=1919-1921
after=William J. Burns
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