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American Physician and Natural Scientist



Who: Samuel George Morton (1799–1851)


What: Used craniometry to promote racial hierarchies.


When: Early 19th century (Note: While Morton’s work is slightly outside the 1700s

timeframe, his influence began in the late 18th century, and he is considered a

a foundational figure in scientific racism).


Details: Morton collected and measured human skulls, claiming that the size of the

skull correlated with intellectual capacity. In his works "Crania Americana" (1839) and "Crania Aegyptiaca" (1844), he argued that Caucasians had the largest skulls and, therefore, the highest intelligence, while Africans had the smallest and were the least intelligent.


Why and How It Was Racist: Morton's work was used to justify slavery, segregation, and racial discrimination by providing a scientific rationale for the belief in white superiority.


Sources: https://www.penn.museum/about-collections/statements-and- policies/morton-cranial-collection

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