Key Facts
- Dr. Johannes Purkinje classified fingerprint patterns into 9 categories in 1823, laying the groundwork for future classification systems.
- Herman Welcker conducted a permanence study on fingerprints in 1856, but Sir William James Hershel is more recognized for studying friction ridge skin.
- In 1858, Hershel pioneered using handprints as signatures in India, highlighting their role in preventing fraud.
19th Century
The earliest European academia dates back to Dr. Johannes Purkinje, a professor at the University of Breslau in Germany, who in 1823 produced a thesis titled “Commentary on the Physiological Examination of the Organs of Vision and the Cutaneous System”, wherein he classified fingerprint patterns into 9 categories and gave each a name. These 9 patters were the precursors ito the Henry classification system.
Although Herman Welcker of the University of Halle was credited with being the first person to start a permanence study by printing his right hand in 1856 and 1897, he is not widely credited. Rather, Sir William James Hershel is credited with being the first person to study the persistence of Friction ridge skin.
Hershel was born in England and moved to Bengal, India to serve as British Administrator in 1853. In 1858, he pioneered the practice of using handprints as a signature, which was used numerous times by various individuals under his direction. Through these experiences, he observed the advantages of using friction ridge skin to fight and prevent fraud.
