The Secret Service was originally established in 1865 as a division of the Treasury Department to combat the widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency.
The agency's role in protecting the President didn't begin until 1901, after the assassination of President William McKinley.
When the Secret Service first took on the role of presidential protection, there were only two agents assigned to the task.
The first female Secret Service agent, Marie Owens, was hired in 1891 to combat counterfeiting in Chicago.
Despite its existence, the Secret Service had not yet assumed the role of protecting the President during Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865.
Secret Service agents undergo rigorous training, including marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and emergency medical skills.
The Secret Service is not only responsible for protecting the President and other high-profile officials within the United States but also provides protection when these officials travel abroad.
In addition to its protective duties, the Secret Service is still responsible for investigating financial crimes, including counterfeiting, credit card fraud, and cybercrime.
Alongside its primary responsibilities for protection and financial crimes, the Secret Service also investigates threats against national leaders.
The Secret Service operates as both a law enforcement agency (investigating financial crimes) and a protective agency, which is somewhat unique in the federal government.