Forensic Science Timeline

  • 1200

    13th century China

    The first case ever recorded using forensic science. All knives were collected after a stabbing and they waited to see which knife the flies would land on
  • Mathieu Orfila

    Father of Forensic Toxicology. He published a paper on how to detect toxins ans their affects
  • William Herschel

    Used thumbprints to identify workers in India.
  • Alphonse Bertillion

    Father of Criminal Identification. Developed body measurements for identification.
  • Henry Faulds

    Used fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect.
  • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Published "Sherlock Holmes" stories.
  • Francis Galton

    Published a book on fingerprint classification and proved their uniqueness.
  • Hans Gross

    Wrote paper about science in criminal investigation.
  • Karl Landsteiner

    Discovered the ABO blood groups.
  • Edmond Locard

    Made the first crime lab based off of Gross' principles.
  • Albert S. Osborn

    Developed Document Examination.
  • Leone Lattes

    Developed ability to determine blood from dried blood.
  • August Vollmer

    Made first crime lab in the US, located in Los Angeles.
  • Calvin Goddard

    Developed the comparison microscope. First used to determine if bullets were fired from the same gun.