History is filled with names, figures, events, and ideas that shaped our world but have largely been forgotten. Among them is Eugène François Vidocq, whose brilliance lay in one simple principle: to catch a criminal, one must think like a criminal. And for him, that was second nature. Unlike others who straddled the line, Vidocq saw that true success came from staying on the right side of the law. In doing so, he revolutionized policing, laying the foundation for modern investigative techniques that endure today.
Click through the gallery to discover the fascinating details of Vidocq’s life.