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Jan 1, 1300
13th Century China
The first case ever recorded using forensic science. Someone was stabbed, all 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 the suspect to confess -
Mathieu Orfila
Considered the "Father of Forensic Toxicology." Published the 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
Used fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Published his first Sherlock Holmes story. Considered the first "CSI" -
Francis Galton
Published Finger Prints. Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification. -
Hans Gross
Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered the ABO blood groups -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Gross' principles within a workable crime lab -
Albert 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 United States, located in Los Angeles -
Calvin Goddard
Developed a comparison microscope, used to compare bullets to see if fired from the same weapon