Eliot Ness was born on April 19, 1903, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a modest household, but his parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and a sense of right and wrong. Ness attended the University of Chicago, where he studied economics and graduated with a degree in the field.
After completing his education, Ness joined the Bureau of Prohibition as a special agent in 1927. He quickly gained a reputation for his honesty and dedication to enforcing the law. In 1930, he was chosen to lead a group of agents known as the Untouchables, who were tasked with taking down the notorious gangster Al Capone.
Under Ness's leadership, the Untouchables were able to successfully prosecute Capone for tax evasion, ultimately leading to his imprisonment. Ness's work on the Capone case made him a household name and solidified his reputation as a fearless crime-fighter.
Ness was married three times in his life. His second wife was the talented illustrator Evaline Ness, whom he was married to from 1939 to 1945. Despite his busy schedule and dangerous job, Ness always made time for his family and loved ones.
One interesting fact about Ness is that his brother-in-law, Alexander Jamie, was also an FBI agent. Though their careers took them down different paths, the two men shared a common commitment to upholding the law and fighting crime.
After his time with the FBI, Ness continued to work in law enforcement, serving as the Safety Director of Cleveland, Ohio, from 1938 to 1942. He later ran an industrial security firm and pursued a career in politics, running unsuccessfully for mayor of Cleveland in 1947.
Ness's life and career have been the subject of numerous books, films, and television shows. Kevin Costner famously portrayed him in the movie "The Untouchables," bringing Ness's story to a whole new generation of fans.