Important Contributions to Forensic Science

First Case using forensic science

1235

Used different weapons on animals to figure out weapon used in stabbing case

Mathieu Orfila

1814

Considered "Father of Forensic Toxicology" because founder.

William Herschel

1856

Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India.

Alphonse Bertillon

1879

"Father of Criminal Identification" Developed anthropometry which uses body measurements to distinguish individuals.

Henry Faulds

1880

Uses fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

1887

Published first Sherlock Holmes story. Considered first CSI, featured in 4 novels and 56 short stories.

Francis Galton

1892

Published Finger Prints. Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification. Gave proof of uniqueness.

Hans Gross

1893

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

Karl Landsteiner

1901

Discovered ABO blood groups and received Nobel Prize.

Edmond Locard

1910

Incorporated Gross' principles within a workable crime lab. Became founder and directer of the Institute of Criminalistics.

Albert S. Osborn

1910

Published Questioned Documents. Developed the fundamental principles of document examination.

Leone lattes

1915

Developed a method for determining blood type from dried blood.

August Vollmer

1923

Established the first crime lab in the U.S.

Calvin Goddard

1925

Developed a comparison microscope. First used to compare bullets to see if fired from same weapon.