Who was the leader of the Identification Division of the FBI at its inception?

The leader of the Identification Division of the FBI at its inception was John Edgar Hoover. He played a crucial role in establishing this division within the Bureau when it was created in the early 20th century. Hoover's vision for a centralized law enforcement agency led to significant advancements in criminal identification techniques, including the incorporation of fingerprint analysis.

Under Hoover's leadership, the FBI emphasized the importance of scientific methods in criminal investigations, which included the collection and analysis of fingerprints. This focus on a systematic approach to law enforcement helped lay the groundwork for modern forensic practices and demonstrated the value of collaborative efforts in crime-solving.

The other individuals listed did have contributions to forensic science, but they weren't leaders of the FBI's Identification Division during its establishment. Edmond Locard is known for his principles in forensic science, Harris Hawthorne Wilder was significant in the study of fingerprints but not as an FBI leader, and Bert Wentworth made contributions to fingerprint classification but was not at the helm of the FBI’s identification efforts.