History of Forensic Science

  • 1300

    13th Century China

    13th Century China
    The first case ever recorded using forensic science. When someone was stabbed, flies were attracted to the traces of blood and landed on the knife, cause someone to confess.
  • Mathieu Orfila

    Mathieu Orfila
    Chemist who published first scientific paper on the detection of poisons and also the poisons effect on animals. He is considered the "Father of Forensics Toxicology"
  • William Hershel

    William Hershel
    Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India
  • Alphonese Bertillon

    Alphonese Bertillon
    Developed Anthropology which uses body measurement to distinguish individuals. Called the "Father of Criminal Identification"
  • Henry Faulds

    Henry Faulds
    Uses Fingerprints to eliminate and innocent burglary suspect
  • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    Considered the first "CSI", also published his first Sherlock Holmes story, popularized scientific crime-detection methods
  • Francis Galton

    Francis Galton
    Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification, gave proof of uniqueness; Also published the book Finger Prints
  • 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 group, later received a Nobel Prize
  • Edmond Locard

    Edmond Locard
    Incorporated Gross’ principles with a workable crime lab; became the founder and director of the Institute if Criminal is tics at the University of Lyons, France
  • Albert S. Osborn

    Albert S. Osborn
    Published Question Documents. Also, developed the fundamental principles of documents examination
  • Leone Lattes

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

    August Vollmer
    Established the First Crime Alan in the United States, located in California
  • Calvin Goddard

    Calvin Goddard
    Developed a comparison microscope; first used bullets to see if fired from the same weapon