The Real-Life Criminal Mastermind Behind Sherlock Holmes’ Nemesis
Discover the true story of Adam Worth, the criminal genius who inspired Moriarty
Adam Worth, Sherlock Holmes, Moriarty, London, Boston, New York, Pinkerton
London: You know that iconic villain, Professor Moriarty, from Sherlock Holmes? Well, he’s actually based on a real guy named Adam Worth. Pretty wild, right?
Worth was born in Germany in 1844 and moved to America when he was just a kid. He got into some serious trouble after faking his own death during the Civil War. Talk about a dramatic start!
He kicked off his criminal career in New York, but here’s the twist: he had a strict no-violence rule. Instead of guns, he relied on his smarts and cleverness. Worth believed that brains were way more powerful than brawn.
His gang pulled off heists all over the place, but they were more like clever tricks than brutal crimes. They even tunneled into a bank in Boston, which got the Pinkerton detectives hot on his trail.
So, he decided to skip town and head to Paris, where he opened a nightclub with a secret casino. When the cops came sniffing around, he had a buzzer system to hide the gambling tables. Sneaky, right?
Eventually, he made his way to London, where he lived in style. He had a mansion in Clapham and a flat in Mayfair. His life was like a movie, hosting fancy parties while planning his next big heist.
Worth was a master at staying under the radar. Even though the police were onto him, he just laughed it off. He was known as the “Napoleon of crime,” and for good reason. He was a genius at theft.
But, like all good things, his luck ran out. His brother got caught, and then he made some bad choices with his crew in Belgium. He ended up in prison but later returned to America, where he shared his wild stories with the Pinkertons.
In the end, he went back to London, and his son even became a Pinkerton detective. How’s that for a plot twist? Worth’s life was so fascinating that it inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to create Moriarty, the ultimate villain.
So, next time you think of Moriarty, remember he’s not just a character. He’s based on a real-life mastermind who lived a life full of adventure and cunning.