The Devious Pimp Who Became The Official First Smart Aleck In History
A small-time criminal trying to avoid paying bribes to police was recognized as the first real smart ass in history
Although it is now somewhat of an outdated term, a “smart aleck” is still widely known as someone who is sarcastic; a real smart ass. It used to be thought of as just another of those words that originated seemingly out of nowhere and persisted through time. However, a university professor discovered that the term actually leads back to one person, an especially devious pimp from the 19th century with a penchant for thinking he was smarter than others.
Katie Serena wrote about the work of professor Gerald Cohen of Missouri University of Science and Technology (along with that of other historians and researchers) and how in 1985 he was able to pinpoint where “smart aleck” came from.
In the 1840s, a man named Alec Hoag lived in New York City, serving as the pimp for his wife Melinda. It was more than just prostitution. The couple worked out a scheme where she would keep the john occupied while her husband stealthily robbed him.
The Hoags were smart enough to make sure their grift evolved as needed. Initially, Melinda would take her clients into alleys where Alec…
