Francois Vidok French criminal who later became the first head of the Main Directorate of National Security. Date of Birth: 23.07.1775 Country: France

1. Biography of François Vidocq
2. Early Life and Criminal Activities
3. Mentions in Literary Works
4. Bibliography

Biography of François Vidocq

François Eugène Vidocq (23 July 1775 – 11 May 1857) was a French criminal who later became the first chief of the National Security Department. He also became one of the first modern private detectives. Vidocq served as the prototype for two main characters in Victor Hugo's novel "Les Misérables". Most of the information about Vidocq is derived from his autobiography, which was written by a ghostwriter.

Early Life and Criminal Activities

According to his autobiography, Vidocq was born on 23 July 1775 in the French city of Arras. His father was a baker. At the age of 14, he accidentally killed his fencing teacher and decided to flee the city. Initially, he intended to go to America, but he spent all his money on an actress and ended up joining the Bourbon regiment.

Vidocq was far from being an ideal soldier. He later recalled participating in 15 duels and facing numerous disciplinary actions.

Mentions in Literary Works

Vidocq served as the inspiration for the following characters in literature:
- Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables"
- Vautrin in Honoré de Balzac's "La Comédie Humaine"
- Rudolph de Gerolstein in Eugène Sue's "The Mysteries of Paris"
- Auguste Dupin in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"
- Lecoq in Émile Gaboriau's "The Lerouge Affair"
- The police spy in Alexandre Dumas's "The Mohicans of Paris"

In 2001, a detective film titled "Vidocq" was released, where Vidocq is one of the main characters portrayed by Gérard Depardieu.

Bibliography

Vidocq also wrote several books, including:
- 1828: "Memoirs of Vidocq, Chief of the Parisian Secret Police"
- 1836: "The Thieves"
- 1844: "Reflections on Prisons, Penal Servitude, and Capital Punishment"
- 1844: "The True Mysteries of Paris"
- 1845: "The Northern Chauffeurs"