John Augustus Larson
John Augustus Larson | |
|---|---|
John Larson in 1921 | |
| Born | December 11, 1892 |
| Died | October 1, 1965 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | U.S. |
| Education | Boston University (M.Sc., 1915) University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D., 1920) Rush Medical College (M.D.) |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley, Rush Medical College |
| Occupation(s) | Police Officer, Forensic Psychiatrist |
| Known for | Criminology, Polygraphy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Medicine Criminology |
| Institutions | Berkeley Police Department |
John Augustus Larson (11 December 1892 – 1 October 1965) was a police officer and forensic psychiatrist and became famous for his invention of the modern polygraph device used in forensic investigations. He was the first American police officer with an academic doctorate and to use the polygraph in criminal investigations. After a famed career in criminal investigation, he died of a heart attack in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 73.