Who published a letter in 1880 suggesting that fingerprints could be used for positive identification?

Dr. Henry Faulds published a letter in 1880 in the journal "Nature" suggesting that fingerprints could be utilized for positive identification. In his correspondence, he discussed the uniqueness of fingerprints and their potential for use in identifying individuals, which laid the groundwork for future developments in fingerprint analysis and its adoption in forensic science.

While Sir Francis Galton contributed significantly to the study of fingerprints and is well-known for formulating the first scientific principles for their classification, it was Faulds who initially proposed the concept of using fingerprints for identification purposes. This distinction is key to understanding why Faulds is recognized for that specific contribution. Lenn Peavey is not typically associated with the historical development of fingerprinting techniques during that period.