-
1247 BCE
13th century China
By the time The Washing Away of Wrongs was written in the mid-thirteenth century China had already been conducting forensic assessments for violent or suspicious deaths for centuries. Going as far back to at least the Ch’in Dynasty (221-207 BCE), the Chinese government ordered forensic investigations in hanging deaths (Sung 1247/1981, p. 4). Then in 995 CE, a decree was issued establishing an inquest system for homicides, unusual deaths, and serious injuries. -
Mathieu Orfila
Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila (1787–1853), often called the "Father of Toxicology," was the first great 19th-century exponent of forensic medicine. Orfila worked to make chemical analysis a routine part of forensic medicine, and made studies of asphyxiation, the decomposition of bodies, and exhumation. -
William Herschel
Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India -
Alphonse Bertillon
Father of criminal investigation. 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 Holmes story; considered the first CSI, featured in 4 novels and 56 short stories popularized scientific crime detection methods. -
Francis Galton
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. Publish criminal investigatin -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered ABO blood groups later recieved Nobel Prize -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Gross principles within workable crime lab;became the founder and director of the institute of criminalists at the university of Lyons, France -
Albert S. Osborn
Published questioned documents. Developed the fundamental principles of document examinations -
Leon 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
