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1247 BCE
13th Century China
The first case ever recorded using forensic science. Someone in the village was stabbed so all of the knives were collected and out out on display. Flies flew around one particular knife, showing them who committed the crime. -
Mathieu Orfila
He is considered the "Father of Toxicology" because he published the first scientific paper on the detection of poisons and their affects on animals. -
William Hershel
Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India. -
Alphonse Bertillon
"Father of Criminal Identification." He also 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 four 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. Published Criminal Investigation. -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered the ABO blood groups, and later received the 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 Loyns, France. -
Albert S. Osborn
Published Questioned Documents. Developed the 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.
