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1200
13th Century China
First ever recorded case using forensic science. A murder happened via a stabbing in a Chinese village. All knives were collected and flies landed on the one with blood remains on it. Villager confessed because of this. -
Mathieu Orfila
"Father of Forensic Toxicology," chemist who published paper on poisons and their effects on animals -
William Herschel
First to use thumbprints as identifiers. Used to identify workers in India. -
Alphonse Bertillon
"Father of Criminal Identification," developed Anthropometry which uses body measurements to distinguish individuals. -
Henry Fauld
Used fingerprints to eliminate innocent burglary suspect -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Published his first Sherlok Holmes novel, considered first "CSI," featured in four novels and 56 short stories. Popularized scientific crime-detection methods. -
Francis Galton
Published "Finger Prints." Conducted first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification. Gave proof of their uniqueness. -
Hans Gross
Published "Criminal Investigation." Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered the ABO blood groups, later received Nobel Prize. -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Gross' principals within a workable crime lab. Became founder and director of the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons, France. -
Albert S. Osborn
Published "Questioned Documents." Developed the fundamental principals 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 LA. -
Calvin Goddard
Developed a comparison microscope, first used to compare bullets to see if fired from same weapon.
