Johann Friedrich Blimenbath, a German naturalist, born at Gotha, May 11, 1752, died in Gottingen, Jan. 22, 1840. His father wr.s a teacher. His love of science was first kindled when he was only 10 years of age, by the sight of a human skeleton in the house of a physician, the friend of his father. While a schoolboy he made collections of human skulls and the bones of animals as a basis for comparative anatomy. At the age of 17 he commenced the study of medicine at Jena, where he remained three years, and afterward went to Gottingen, where he obtained his degree of doctor of medicine in 1775. On that occasion he wrote a thesis on the different varieties of the human race, De Generis Humani Varietate Natira, in which he developed the germ of those craniological researches and comparisons for which he afterward became celebrated. In the following year he was appointed junior professor of medicine at Gottingen and keeper of the cabinet of natural history, and two years later (1778) regular professor. From 1780 to 1794 he edited a scientific publication, the Medicinische Bibliothelc, for which he wrote many valuable articles on medicine, physiology, and comparative anatomy.

He also obtained a reputation by the publication of his Institutiones Physiologicce, a condensed and well arranged view of the animal functions; the work appeared in 1787, and during a period of 34 years passed through many editions in Germany, where it was the general text book in the schools. It was rendered into English by Dr. Caldwell, and published in America in 1798, and in London, by Elliot-son, in 1817. Blumenbach became still more extensively known by his manual of comparative anatomy and physiology (Handbuch der terghichenden Anatomic und Physiologie), of which three editions were published in Ger-niany from 1804 to 1824. It was translated into English in 1809 by the eminent surgeon Lawrence; and again with the latest additions and improvements, by Coulson, in 1827. Though less elaborate than the works of Cu-vier and Carus, this work of Blumenbach will always be valued for the accuracy of his own observations, and the just appreciation of the labors of his predecessors. Blumenbach was the first who placed comparative anatomy on a truly scientific basis. In 1785, long before Cuvier's time, he instituted the method of comparing different varieties of human skeletons as well as skeletons of animals.

Camper had only compared the facial angles of the skulls of Europeans, negroes, and orangoutangs; Blumenbach perceived the insufficiency of these few points of comparison, and introduced a general survey of comparative anatomy. He insisted on the necessity of comparing the whole cranium and face, to distinguish the varieties of the human race; and his numerous observations were published in the Collectio Craniorum Diversarum Gentium, published at Gottingen, in 7 decades, from 1790 to 1828, in 4to, with 80 figures, and in the Nova Pentas Collectionis sum Craniorum, which was joined to the work in the latter year. The ethnological division of mankind into five races, called respectively the Caucasian, the Mongolian, the Malay, the Ethiopian, and the American, was first proposed by Blumenbach, and for many years had popular currency, though now discarded as inadequate by most ethnologists. The greatest part of Blumenbach's life was passed at Gottingen. In 1783 he visited Switzerland, and gave a curious medical topography of that country in his Bibliothek. In 1788 he was in England, and also in 1792. The prince regent in 1816 conferred on him the office of physician to the royal family in Hanover, and in 1821 made him knight companion of the Guelphic order.

The royal academy of Paris adopted him as a member in 1831. In 1825 Blumenbach celebrated the 50th anniversary of his inauguration as a doctor of medicine, and in 1826 of his professorship. In 1835 he retired from public life, and only lectured privately to select audiences.