Origins & Early Life

John Herbert Dillinger (; June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an American gangster during the Great Depression. He commanded the Dillinger Gang, which was accused of robbing twenty-four banks and four police stations. Dillinger was imprisoned several times and escaped twice. He was charged with but not convicted of the murder of East Chicago, Indiana police officer William O'Malley, who shot Dillinger in his bulletproof vest during a shootout; it was the only time Dillinger was charged with homicide.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Dillinger courted publicity. The media printed exaggerated accounts of his bravado and colorful personality, and described him as a Robin Hood-type figure. In response, J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), used Dillinger as justification to evolve the BOI into the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), developing more sophisticated investigative techniques as weapons against organized crime. After evading police in four states for almost a year, Dillinger was wounded in a gunfight and went to his father's home to recover.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His Michigan hideout was in Charlevoix, Michigan. He returned to Chicago in July 1934 and sought refuge in a brothel owned by Ana Cumpănaș, who...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abimael Guzmán — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Peruvian Maoist revolutionary leader, founder of the Shining Path.
• Alan Arkin — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Esteemed American actor, filmmaker, and musician with a seven-decade career.
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• Al-Zamakhshari — Shared historical date (06-12 · Died) (1144): Pioneering scholar of Quranic exegesis, linguistics, and theology.
• Anne Frank — Shared historical date (06-12 · Born) (1929): German-born diarist whose secret writings documented life in hiding during the Holocaust.
• Alan Menken — Shared historical date (07-22 · Born) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Albert Brooks — Shared historical date (07-22 · Born) (1947): Versatile American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter.
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