1895 - 1972
J. Edgar Hoover was an American law enforcement officer who served as the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1935 until his death in 1972. He is known for modernizing criminal investigation techniques and for his controversial tenure, which included extensive surveillance and infiltration of civil rights and political organizations. Hoover's legacy is marked by both his contributions to law enforcement and his controversial methods of enforcing national security and combating perceived threats.