Robert Frank Borkenstein (August 31, 1912 – August 10, 2002) was an American inventor, researcher, and professor, and is known as the inventor of the

Breathalyzer A breathalyzer or breathalyser (a portmanteau of ''breath'' and ''analyzer/analyser'') is a device for estimating blood alcohol content (BAC), or to detect viruses or diseases from a breath sample. The name is a genericized trademark of the Br ...

Early Years

Robert F. Borkenstein was born in

Fort Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...

on August 31, 1912. He graduated high school during the beginning of the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

, and due to other financial issues and constraints he was unable to continue his education in college. He would find employment working in Fort Wayne as a photographic technician, where he developed an expertise in color film leading to his invention of the color camera. In 1936, because of his skills and creativity Borkenstein was hired by the

Indiana State Police The Indiana State Police is the statewide law enforcement agency for the U.S. state of Indiana. Indiana was the 12th state to offer protection to its citizens with a state police force. Its headquarters are in the Indiana Government Center Nort ...

Criminology Laboratory. Rising through the ranks quickly, Borkenstein when from working as a clerk to Captain in charge Laboratory Services. Throughout his time with the Indiana State Police, he helped to improve the use of photography in law enforcement and assisted in the creation of the

polygraph machine A polygraph, often incorrectly referred to as a lie detector test, is a device or procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked an ...

The Breathalyzer

While working with the Indiana State Police, Borkenstein developed a close professional relationship with Professor Rolla N. Hager of the Indiana School of Medicine. Hager was working to develop the Drunkometer, which would be the first practical instrument of breath alcohol analysis developed in 1938. However the Drunkometer was complicated and had low reliability, so Borkenstein decided to continue to work and develop a more reliable device. In 1954 Borkenstein created what is commonly known as the

. This version was a more compact, and easier to operate breath test machine, which produced reliable results concerning blood alcohol content. A revolutionary invention that aided the ability of traffic enforcement officials’ to identify and prosecute drivers under the influence of alcohol. The breathalyzer was commercially produced and adopted in law enforcement agencies throughout the country and world.

Indiana University

During the 1950s, Borkenstein attended Indiana University on a part-time basis, earning his Bachelor of Arts in

Forensic Science Forensic science, also known as criminalistics, is the application of science to criminal and civil laws, mainly—on the criminal side—during criminal investigation, as governed by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal ...

in 1958. During the same year as his graduation from IU, he retired from the Indiana State Police and joined the university faculty as Chairmen of the Department of Police Administration, a newly established department. A unique program during its time, that also continued to develop during the Borkenstein's tenure. In 1971, Borkenstein became the director of the IU Center for Studies of Law in Action, which went on to offer a reoccurring "Robert F. Borkenstein Course on Alcohol and Highway Safety: Testing, Research, and Litigation" for forensic science, law enforcement, and criminal justice professionals. In March 1987 Borkenstein retired, though he continued to hold emeritus titles as both a professor and Director of the Center for Studies of Law in Action.

Research

Borkenstien was an avid researcher and was very respected in his field. One of his most significant research endeavors was the Grand Rapids Study of 1962–1963, the findings of which supported changing the legal blood alcohol content from 0.1 to 0.08. In light of his achievements, Borkenstein was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by

Wittenberg University Wittenberg University is a private liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio. It has 1,326 full-time students representing 33 states and 9 foreign countries. Wittenberg University is associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ...

in 1963 and an Honorary LL.D. from Indiana University in 1987. Borkenstein was inducted into the Safety and Health Hall of Fame International in 1988.

Personal life

Borkenstein married Marjorie K. Buchanan in 1938. The couple had no children. Marjorie preceded her husband in death in December 1998. Borkenstein died on August 10, 2002 at the age of 89.

References

External links

Robert Frank Borkenstein
a
Breathalyzer.orgRobert F. Borkenstein Papers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borkenstein, Robert Frank 1912 births 2002 deaths Breathalyzer People from Fort Wayne, Indiana People from Bloomington, Indiana 20th-century American scientists American state police officers 20th-century American inventors