What famous political leader’s murder was solved through hair analysis?
a. Stalin
b. Hitler
c. Kennedy
d. Napoleon
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is d. Napoleon.
The murder of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Emperor who died in exile on the island of Saint Helena in 1821, is one of the most famous cases in history to be solved, in part, through hair analysis. For years, many speculated that Napoleon did not die from natural causes but was poisoned. This theory gained traction because Napoleon’s death was sudden and his health had been in decline. Some even believed that the British, who exiled him, had a hand in his death.
However, it was not until the 1960s that the mystery took a more scientific turn. Researchers, including a group led by Dr. G. L. W. R. K. Baggott, studied samples of Napoleon’s hair and discovered elevated levels of arsenic. Arsenic was a common poison in the 19th century and was often used to preserve food or as a treatment for ailments. It was thought that Napoleon might have been slowly poisoned over time. The hair samples revealed consistent traces of arsenic, leading some scientists to believe that his death could have been the result of deliberate poisoning.
Yet, the study of hair analysis did not end there. While the poisoning theory was compelling, more recent research suggests that the high levels of arsenic in Napoleon’s hair could have come from environmental factors rather than intentional poisoning. For instance, the damp conditions of Saint Helena might have led to the arsenic found in the hair through the decay of certain materials.
Despite these debates, hair analysis played a pivotal role in reigniting interest in Napoleon’s death and is considered one of the earliest uses of forensic hair analysis to solve a high-profile case.