Federal Bureau of Investigation

In 1906, President Roosevelt appointed Charles Bonaparte as his second Attorney General. Bonaparte, a noted civic reformer and grandnephew of the French emperor, was trusted by Roosevelt and appointed to various posts during his presidency.

The FBI, originally known as the Bureau of Investigation, was established in 1908. It is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Justice.

In 1908, a memo signed by Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General, established a 'regular force of special agents' to investigate specific cases for the Department of Justice. This marked the beginning of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which has since become a renowned law enforcement agency worldwide.

On December 2, 1919, the FBI issued its first wanted poster for William N. Bishop, a soldier who escaped from Camp A. A. Humphreys. This marked the beginning of a new era in fugitive-catching efforts by the FBI and its partners.

On August 22, 1921, J. Edgar Hoover assumed the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), marking the beginning of his long tenure in the role.

On May 1, 1922, Emilio Kosterlitzky was appointed as a Bureau special agent with a focus on border cases and liaison with Mexican informants and officials. He demonstrated exceptional diplomacy and skill in his work.

After his perceived success in handling the Red Scare, Hoover was appointed as acting director of the Bureau of Investigation on May 10, 1924. He initiated significant restructuring and expansion efforts, transforming the Bureau into a more effective crime-fighting entity.

J. Edgar Hoover's term as Director of the FBI came to an end on June 14, 1924, concluding his significant impact on the organization during his tenure.

In October 1925, Edwin C. Shanahan became the first FBI Agent to be killed while on duty.

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program was initiated by the FBI in 1930 to collect, analyze, and publish crime statistics across the United States. It serves as a valuable resource for law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and the public.

In July 1934, John Dillinger was killed by Federal Agents in Chicago.

In July 1935, the Division of Investigation was reorganized and became the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In August 1940, the Disaster Squad was established by the FBI after being tasked with identifying its personnel involved in an airplane crash in Virginia.

In June 1942, four German saboteurs arrived in Long Island from a U-Boat, while four others landed in Florida. The FBI successfully apprehended all eight individuals.

In November 1944, Nazi spies William C. Colepaugh and Erich Gimpel arrived in Maine from a German submarine and were captured by the FBI.

On April 10, 1950, J. Edgar Hoover initiated the FBI's 'sex deviates' program by forwarding a list of alleged federal employees arrested for 'sexual irregularities' in Washington, D.C. since 1947 to various government branches.

President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed on November 22, 1963. The FBI took over the investigation following a directive from President Lyndon B. Johnson.

On March 9, 1971, a group known as the Citizen Commission to Investigate the F.B.I. burglarized a small F.B.I. office in Media, Pennsylvania, and obtained documents revealing extensive surveillance and wiretapping operations by the FBI on various groups. This incident exposed the F.B.I.'s controversial COINTELPRO programs.

Clarence M. Kelley's term as Director of the FBI concluded on May 2, 1972, marking the end of his leadership within the organization.

On July 9, 1973, William H. Webster assumed the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), taking over the leadership role.

The fallout from the misuse of COINTELPRO led to Congress passing laws requiring Senate confirmation of future FBI directors and limiting their tenure to 10 years.

William H. Webster's term as Director of the FBI ended on February 15, 1978, concluding his impactful tenure within the organization.

On February 23, 1978, William S. Sessions was appointed as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), succeeding William H. Webster.

William S. Sessions' term as Director of the FBI came to an end on May 25, 1987, marking the conclusion of his leadership within the organization.

On November 2, 1987, Louis J. Freeh assumed the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), taking over the leadership role.

Louis J. Freeh's term as Director of the FBI concluded on July 19, 1993, marking the end of his impactful tenure within the organization.

On September 1, 1993, Robert S. Mueller III assumed the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), succeeding Louis J. Freeh.

The FBI played a crucial role in the investigation of the Oklahoma City bombing that occurred on April 19, 1995, resulting in the arrest and conviction of Timothy McVeigh. This tragic event highlighted the FBI's involvement in combating domestic terrorism.

In May 1998, Eric Robert Rudolph was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for his involvement in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta and the bombing of a Birmingham abortion clinic.

In August 1998, bombs were detonated near the United States Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, resulting in the death of 224 people, including 12 Americans and 38 Foreign Service Nationals. The FBI provided assistance in the search, rescue, and investigation efforts.

In June 1999, Osama Bin Laden was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list due to his suspected involvement in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Robert S. Mueller III's term as Director of the FBI came to an end on June 25, 2001, marking the conclusion of his leadership within the organization.

On September 4, 2001, James B. Comey assumed the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), taking over the leadership role.

In October 2002, two snipers killed 10 people, including an FBI employee, and terrorized the Washington, D.C. area for three weeks until being captured by the FBI and its partners.

In September 2003, the multi-agency Terrorist Screening Center, administered by the FBI, was established to enhance counterterrorism efforts.

In September 2005, the FBI established a National Security Branch to consolidate the resources and capabilities of its counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and intelligence units.

In September 2012, the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya was attacked, leading to the tragic deaths of four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. The FBI initiated an investigation and utilized social media to gather information from individuals in the area.

James B. Comey's term as Director of the FBI concluded on May 9, 2013, marking the end of his impactful tenure within the organization.

On August 2, 2017, Christopher Wray assumed the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), taking over the leadership role.

An FBI informant who participated in the January 6, 2021 attack testified in support of the Proud Boys, raising questions about FBI's intelligence failures and response to white supremacist violence.

The FBI, or Federal Bureau of Investigation, was established on March 11, 2024.