Henry, Edward Richard

7/26/1850–2/19/1931
BRITISH
FINGERPRINT EXPERT

Over the course of his career, Sir Edward Richard Henry made significant advancements in the use of fingerprints as a tool to forensic science. He is responsible for developing the fingerprint identification system that is used throughout Europe and North America. In conjunction with his research, Henry published Classification and Uses of Finger Prints. As the head of Scotland Yard, he also led the transition from anthropometry to fingerprint identification.

Henry was born in London in 1850 and attended St. Edmund's College. He earned a degree from University College, London, in 1869, and a few years later began studying law at the Society of the Middle Temple. In 1873, Henry passed the examinations to join the civil service in India. It was in India where Henry first became involved in matters related to criminal identification and fingerprinting. He first worked in Allahabad, where he was an assistant magistrate collector, presiding over tax courts. Later, Henry was appointed as inspector general of the Bengal police.

While working as inspector general, Henry began to study how fingerprinting was and could be used as a way to identify criminals. He discussed the matter frequently with fellow English scientist Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911), and reviewed research conducted by William Herschel (1738–1822) and Henry Faulds (1843–1930). In 1896, Henry instituted the use of fingerprint impressions on criminal record forms in Bengal. Later that year, he developed a fingerprint classification system that allowed fingerprints to be filed, searched, and traced against thousands of others. Within a year, Henry's system was being used throughout British India. Within ten years, the system was being used by authorities throughout Europe and North America. Following the development of his system, Henry wrote and published a book detailing the subject, Classification and Uses of Finger Prints.

Henry returned to England in 1901, and became the assistant commissioner of Scotland Yard, overseeing the criminal investigation department. Later that year, under Henry's tutelage, Scotland Yard established its own fingerprint bureau. In 1903, Henry was appointed commissioner of Scotland Yard, a position he held for fifteen years. He was knighted in 1906.