Juan Vucetich

Croatian-Argentine fingerprinting pioneer who revolutionized forensic science

Juan Vucetich (1858–1925) created the first practical fingerprint classification system in 1891 while working in La Plata, Argentina. His method identified Francisca Rojas' bloody print in an 1892 murder case – the first criminal conviction using fingerprints.

Vucetich's Dactiloscopía Comparada (1904) systematized four primary patterns: arches, loops, whorls, and accidentals – still foundational in biometrics. Despite European skepticism, Argentina adopted his system nationwide by 1896, influencing Latin American countries to replace flawed anthropometric methods.

His 10-finger classification enabled efficient criminal databases, reducing wrongful convictions. When Scotland Yard initially rejected his methods, Vucetich countered: Fingerprints are nature's signature – immutable and universal. By 1917, even critics adopted his system, making Vucetich the father of modern dactyloscopy.