Before the rise of the Mafia and the well-known crime families of the 20th century, city streets belonged to a different breed of criminals—organized but unruly, violent yet oddly charismatic. From the back alleys of Birmingham to the slums of New York, early gangs like the Peaky Blinders, the Bowery Boys, and the Forty Elephants controlled entire neighborhoods, paving the way for the crime syndicates that would follow. These early gangs were the original underworld kings and queens, running rackets, clashing with law enforcement, and even influencing fashion and politics.
The Peaky Blinders: Birmingham’s Infamous Street Gang
Long before the hit TV series made them a household name, the Peaky Blinders were terrorizing the industrial streets of Birmingham in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Unlike the sleek, businesslike crime families of later years, the Peaky Blinders were a loose collection of working-class men who turned to crime as a way of life.
Their name, rumored to have come from the razor blades allegedly sewn into their flat caps (though this is widely debated), became synonymous with fear. The gang engaged in illegal betting, protection rackets, and violent street brawls. They were known for their sharp fashion sense—tailored suits, silk scarves, and, of course, their signature peaked caps. The Peaky Blinders’ influence faded by the 1920s as law enforcement cracked down and new gangs took over, but their legend lived on, resurfacing in pop culture more than a century later.
The Bowery Boys: New York’s Notorious Nativists
In the mid-19th century, the streets of New York were a battleground between Irish immigrants and nativist groups. Among the most notorious of these gangs was the Bowery Boys, a group of anti-immigrant, working-class men who patrolled Manhattan’s Bowery district. Unlike the scrappy, lawless street gangs of later decades, the Bowery Boys were highly political, aligning themselves with the Know-Nothing movement, a party dedicated to restricting immigrant influence.
Dressed in stovepipe hats and red shirts (a nod to their roots as volunteer firefighters), the Bowery Boys were known for their clashes with Irish gangs like the Dead Rabbits. Their brawls, which often escalated into full-scale riots, became legendary. But by the late 19th century, as immigration became an unstoppable force, the Bowery Boys’ influence faded, making way for more organized criminal enterprises.
The Forty Elephants: London’s All-Female Crime Syndicate
While most historical gangs were dominated by men, the Forty Elephants proved that women could be just as ruthless and cunning. This all-female gang, active from the late 19th century through the early 20th century, specialized in high-end shoplifting and blackmail.
Operating primarily in London, the Forty Elephants perfected a system of “hoisting”—stealing expensive goods by hiding them in specially tailored clothing with secret pockets. They dressed like high-society ladies, gaining easy access to luxury stores, only to rob them blind. If caught, they used their feminine charm (or outright violence) to escape punishment.
Led by formidable figures like Alice Diamond, the gang worked in close coordination, with members passing stolen goods among themselves to avoid detection. Their ability to manipulate high society while running a sophisticated theft operation made them one of the most successful and longest-running crime syndicates in history.
The Legacy of Pre-Mafia Street Gangs
While these gangs lacked the hierarchical organization and longevity of the Mafia, they set the stage for the underworld empires that would follow. They operated in a time before law enforcement had the resources to combat organized crime effectively, allowing them to thrive in the shadows. Many of their tactics—extortion, smuggling, and illegal betting—would later be perfected by the Mafia, bootleggers, and modern crime syndicates.
Today, their stories remain a fascinating look at the raw, unpolished world of early crime—when gangs were more than just criminals; they were cultural icons who shaped the streets they ruled.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and historical purposes only. It is based on historical records, research, and documented accounts of early street gangs. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, some details may be subject to interpretation or debate. This article does not endorse or glorify criminal activity but seeks to provide an educational perspective on the evolution of organized crime.
