History of Forensic Science

Important People and DatesMathieu Orfila (1787-1853)

Considered the father of Forensic Toxicology

Published the first scientific article on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals1814

Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)Set up first system of

personal identification

Used body measurements to distinguish one person from anotherAnthropometry1879

Considered Father of Criminal Identification

Francis Galton (1822-1911)Undertook first study of

fingerprints

Published Finger Prints, which contained statistical proof of the uniqueness of fingerprints1892

Hans Gross (1847-1915)• First described the

application of scientific disciplines to the field of criminal investigation

– Titled Criminal Investigation– 1893

Albert S. Osborn (1858-1946)Developed fundamental

principles of document examination

Wrote first significant text in the fieldQuestioned Documents1910

Leone Lattes (1887-1954)In 1915 he devised simple

technique to determine the blood group of a dried blood stain.

• Blood groups A, B, AB, & O were discovered in 1901 by someone else

Calvin Goddard (1891-1955)• Refined the techniques of

examining whether a bullet came from a particular gun with a comparison microscope

• Comparison microscope very important to the modern day firearms examiner– ~1930’s

Comparison microscope image

Walter C. McCrone (1916-2002)• Educator of thousands

of forensic scientists

• Well known for his work in microscopy

• Work done from the 50’s to the present

Edmond Locard (1877- 1966)

• Didn’t we already talk about this guy?

• Why was his contribution to forensic science significant?

• Locard Exchange Principle• 1904

• First Forensic Science Lab 1910

Create a Timeline

• Using the Guys previously listed, create a timeline of important people and their contributions to forensic science.

• I’ll give you 1 piece of white paper• Use color and make it nice• Add your own drawings and pictures too• Clarity and neatness counts• 15 pts