The Shelby dynasty: from Birmingham street gang to national criminal empire

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the aftermath of World War I, the Peaky Blinders transformed from a local Birmingham street gang into a powerful national organisation. Led by the ambitious Tommy Shelby, the family navigated treacherous rivalries with the New York Mafia and the London underworld to secure their social standing and business legacy.

The Peaky Blinders, a fictionalised version of a real urban youth gang active in Birmingham between the 1880s and 1910s, serves as the focal point of Steven Knight's drama. At the center is Thomas Michael "Tommy" Shelby, a decorated former Sergeant Major whose wartime experiences left him deeply disillusioned. Under his leadership, the gang’s influence expanded significantly, clashing with major entities like the New York Mafia and the Birmingham Boys, led by William Kimber.

The Shelby family hierarchy is complex, driven by varying motivations and internal conflicts. Tommy's brother, Arthur Shelby Jr., serves as Deputy Vice-President of Shelby Company Limited and struggles with a debilitating cocaine addiction to cope with his PTSD. Meanwhile, Ada Thorne, the only female sibling, eventually manages the US branch of the family business, focusing on legal acquisitions. The family matriarch, Polly Gray, acted as the gang's treasurer and managed operations while the men were away during the war.

Success and survival often came at a high price. The family faced constant threats from figures like the Italian gang leader Charles "Darby" Sabini and the Jewish gang leader Alfie Solomons Jr. Internal fractures also proved fatal; the IRA killed Polly Gray following a failed assassination attempt on Oswald Mosley, and John Shelby was killed by Changretta's men in the fourth series. Even the youngest brother, Finn Shelby, eventually faced permanent expulsion from the family after failing to prove his loyalty.

The series also explores the intersection of crime and politics. Tommy Shelby eventually becomes a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party, following the chaos of the Wall Street Crash. His political sphere includes historical figures like Winston Churchill, who, as Secretary of State for the Colonies, hired Inspector Chester Campbell to recover stolen machine guns from a Birmingham factory.

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