Who is considered the father of embalming?

The title of "father of embalming" is often attributed to Thomas Holmes due to his significant contributions to the practice during the American Civil War. Holmes was a physician and is recognized for developing techniques that greatly improved the preservation of bodies for burial, particularly in the challenging conditions posed by war. His method of arterial embalming, which involved injecting a preservative fluid into the circulation system, was revolutionary at the time and laid the groundwork for modern embalming techniques.

Holmes’ work was particularly noteworthy as it was among the first organized efforts to utilize embalming on a large scale to preserve soldiers' bodies for transport back home for burial, which was highly valued by families during that period. His emphasis on the scientific approach to wrapping and preserving the deceased has made him a pivotal figure in mortuary science. Thus, the connection to Thomas Holmes as the father of embalming is well established in historical texts and studies within the field.