Monk Eastman

Not everyone who was powerful in their era required the backing of the government or the military. In the 1890s, Edward Eastman, who was born in Lower Manhattan in 1875, was employed as a bouncer at the posh dance club New Irving Hall, where he developed a reputation among criminals for being strong and built relationships with Tammany Hall politicians.

His gang expanded to a startling 1,200 members, which was sufficient to scare voters and manipulate vote totals until Tammany Hall gained a decisive advantage. As a result of Eastman's battles, drive-by shootings became a common occurrence in America.

Despite the fact that the wars spiraled out of control to the point where Eastman was sentenced to five years in prison in 1904, he was able to make amends during World War I and eventually rose to the status of a national hero. Pretty bad for a man who once believed that the fact that he removed his brass knuckles before striking ladies was his greatest strength.

Notwithstanding his propensity for violence, Eastman was infamous for his preoccupation with pigeons. Not only was it the one legal position he had ever had, but he also owned thousands of them. He would physically assault those who mistreated any type of animal. That kind of person could lead a criminal enterprise that altered the course of politics.

Born: Edward Eastman, 1875, New York City, U.S.
Died: December 26, 1920 (aged 44–45)New York City, U.S.