Al Capone grew up in New York

Most people associate Al Capone with a Chicago mob boss, but they may be unaware that he was born in Brooklyn, New York. Al was one of nine children born to immigrant parents in 1899. Al's childhood was not prosperous, as it was for many other immigrant families at the time; his mother was a seamstress and his father was a barber. 38 Garfield Place in Park Slope was his childhood home. His family also lived on the same street at numbers 21 and 46. Al Capone had so many ties to Garfield Place that legend has it that he hid money in the walls of one of his old homes. This poor upbringing may have played a role in Al's quest for a better life.

Capone attended P.S. 7 and then P.S. 133 and was a good student until sixth grade, when his attendance and performance began to deteriorate. That year, he was held back. Al was hit by his teacher at the time, so he retaliated by hitting her back. He was then sent to the principal's office, where he was also hit (this was common back in the day). Al Capone never returned to school as a student.

Capone relocated to Chicago to work for gangster Johnny Torrio. Al rose through the ranks of the organization to become Torrio's right-hand man. Prohibition made the production and sale of alcoholic beverages illegal during this time period. The gang made the majority of their money by selling counterfeit liquor. Torrio was assassinated by a rival gang in 1925, and Al Capone took over as crime boss.