Heroes and Cultural Identity Project

SCE Heroes - Dr Henry Faulds

Dr Henry Faulds

Dr Henry Faulds was a Scottish physician who lived in Japan. He opened a hospital with his wife which treated 1500 patients annually. His interest in fingerprinting first came about when he noticed minute patterns of parallel lines impressed in the clay on ancient pottery while turning them over in his hands. Although he had no idea what they were he later noticed the same patterns and realised that you could identify the potter who made the item, and each mark was unique to that person.

After collecting samples from his friends and neighbours he confirmed this theory to be true. Although he wrote to many scientist around the world, no one wanted to know about his discovery or wanted to help him develop it more, when there were a spate of thefts at his hospital, sooty prints were left which allowed Faulds to alert police when he discovered they has arrested the wrong person. Although no one was willing to help him, he tried writing to Charles Darwin who passed his research onto his cousin Francis Galton who promised to help Faulds but went back on his word, so Faulds gave in on his idea and moved back to Scotland. Francis Galton with his partner William Herschel developed Faulds ideas and passed them off as their own.

Dr Henry Faulds never got the recognition for his work in the Development of fingerprint identification until 70 years after his death, and he is now known as the man who invented fingerprinting.

Kirsty Gow is a science student following a one year university access course in biological sciences.