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1200
13th Century China
The first case ever recorded using forensic science. When someone was stabbed, all of the knives in the village were collected. Flies were attracted to the traces of blood and landed on only one of the knives, causing the suspect to confess. -
Mathieu Orfila
Considered the "Father of Forensic Toxicology." Chemist who published first scientific paper on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals. -
William Herschel
Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India. -
Alphonse Bertillon
"Father of Criminal Identification." 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 "Fingerprints." Conducted the 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 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 Lyons, 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, California. -
Calvin Goddard
Developed a comparison microscope, first used to compare bullets to see if fired from the same weapon.
