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Important Contributions in Forensic Science

  • 13th Century China
    1201

    13th Century China

    In the Washing Away of Wrongs, the first documented forensic entomology case was reported. This case was basically a stabbing that took place in a Chinese village. By testing different blades on an animal carcass, it was determined that the wound was caused by a sickle. Each peasant in the village had a sickle so it was concluded that a peasant had committed the crime.
  • William Herschel

    William Herschel

    Sir William James Herschel was a British ICS officer in India who used fingerprints for identification on contracts.
  • Alphonse Bertillon

    Alphonse Bertillon

    Alphonse Bertillon aka the "Father of Criminal Identification" was a police officer and bio metrics researcher who applied the anthropological technique to law enforcement. Bertillon had a hand in creating an identification system based on physical measurements. This was the first scientific system used by police to identify criminals
  • Henry Faulds

    Henry Faulds

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

    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

    Francis Galton

    Published "Finger Prints". Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classifications. Gave proof of their uniqueness.
  • Hans Gross

    Hans Gross

    Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. Published criminal Investigation.
  • Karl Landsteiner

    Karl Landsteiner

    Discovered the ABO blood groups, later received the Nobel Prize.
  • Edmond Locard

    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

    Albert S. Osborn

    Published "Questioned Documents". Developed the fundamental principles of document examination.
  • Mathieu Orfila

    Mathieu Orfila

    Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila is know as the "Father of Toxicology." Orfila was the first to examine body fluids in relations to crimes Orfila had a hand in developing tests and routines to test bodily fluids. He was first people to use a microscope to assess blood and semen stains. In addition, Orfila worked to improve public health systems and medical training.
  • Leone Lattes

    Leone Lattes

    Developed a method for determining blood type from dried blood.
  • August Vollmer

    August Vollmer

    Established the First Crime Lab in the United States, located in Los Angeles.
  • Calvin Goddard

    Calvin Goddard

    Developed a comparison microscope; first used to compare bullets to see if they were fired form the same weapon.