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1200
13th Century China
The first ever case recorded using forensic science. Sung T'zu observed the amount of water in the lungs of drowning victims and the damaged cartilage in strangulation victims. -
Mathieu Orfila: Father of Forensic Toxicology
Worked to make chemical analysis a routine of forensic medicine, and made studies of asphyxiation, the decomposition of bodies, and exhumation. -
William Herschel: Thumbprints
Used thumbprint on documents to identify workers in India. -
Alphonse Bertillon: Father of Criminal Identification
Developed Anthropometry which uses body measurements to distinguish individuals. -
Henry Faulds
Used fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect. -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Published first Sherlock Holmes story; considered first "CSI", featuring deductive methods. -
Francis Galton
Published "Finger Prints". Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification. Gave proof of their uniqueness. -
Han Gross
Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered ABO blood groups, later received Nobel Prize. -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Gross' principles within a workable crime lab; became the founder and director of the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons, France. -
Albert S. Osborn
Published "Questioned Documents". Developed fundamental principles of document examination. -
Leone Lattes
Developed a method for determining blood type from dried blood. -
August Vollmer
Established the first crime lab in the United States, located in Los Angeles. -
Calvin Goddard
Developed a comparison microscope; first used to compare bullets to see if fired from the same weapon.