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1235
13th Century China
The first case ever recorded using forensic science. First, a stabbing occurred in a Chinese village. Multiple blades were tested, and it was found that sickle was what caused death. Blow flies were used to test what the cause was. Multiple different types of blades were set out and the flies only attracted to the sickle, because it still had traces of blood and tissue present. -
Mathieu Orfila
Considered the "Father of Toxicology" because he worked to make chemical analysis a great exponent of forensic science. -
William Herschel
Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India. -
Alphonse Bertillon
"Father of Criminal Identification" and developed anthropometry which uses body measurements to distinguish individuals. -
Henry Faulds
Uses fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect. -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Published his first Sherlock Homes story; considered the first "CSI", featured in four novels and 56 short stories, popularized scientific crime-detection methods. -
Francis Gaulton
Published Finger Prints. Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification. Gave proof of their uniqueness. -
Hans Gross
Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. Published Criminal Investigation. -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered the ABO blood groups, and 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 the fundamental principles of document examination. -
Leone Lattes
Developed method for determining blood type from dried blood. -
August Vollmer
Established the First Crime Lab in United States, located in Los Angeles. -
Calvin Goddard
Developed a comparison microscope, first used to compare bullets to see if it fired from the same weapon.
