John Allen | |
|---|---|
 John Allan and his son Chester, Harper's Weekly, 1868 | |
| Born | c. 1823 Near Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Died | 1870 West Perth, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | E.E. Van Allen |
| Occupation | Saloon keeper |
| Known for | Saloon keeper and underworld figure known as the "Wickedest Man in New York". |
John Allen (c. 1823–1870) was an American saloon keeper and underworld figure in New York City during the early-to mid-19th century. A former religious student, Allen was considered one of the most notorious criminals in the city and was known as the "Wickedest Man in New York". A public crusade against him, headed by lawyer and journalist Oliver Dyer, resulted in a reform movement known as the "Water Street revival".
The campaign, in which Allen and other notorious underworld figures had been "reformed" by religious leaders, was later revealed to be a fraud following exclusive exposés by The New York Times and the New York World forcing Allen to leave the city.