Which individual was the first to confirm ridge permanency in fingerprints?

The individual credited with first confirming the permanency of ridge patterns in fingerprints is Sir William Herschel. His work in the late 19th century was instrumental in the study of fingerprints, particularly in recognizing that the distinctive patterns of ridges on fingers remain unchanged throughout an individual's lifetime. This realization laid the foundation for the use of fingerprints in identification and forensic science.

Herschel's observations were based on practical applications in India, where he began using fingerprints for record-keeping and signatures. His insights demonstrated that no two fingerprints are alike and that the characteristics of skin ridges are stable, which was a significant advancement in the understanding of human identification methods. This pioneering work ultimately influenced later fingerprint classification systems and solidified the role of fingerprints in forensic investigation.