author
William T. Preyer
1841–1897
A pioneering scientist of the 19th century, he helped turn the study of child development into a careful, observation-based field. Best known for writing about infancy and early mental life, his work linked physiology, psychology, and language development in ways that still feel modern.
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About the author
Born in England in 1841 and active mainly in Germany, William Thierry Preyer was a biochemist, physiologist, and psychologist whose career crossed several fields. He studied at Heidelberg and later taught physiology at the University of Jena, where he became known for bringing experimental methods and scientific training into his teaching.
Preyer is especially remembered for his early work on child development. By closely observing infants, including his own son, he helped establish a more systematic way of studying how children grow, learn language, and develop mentally. His best-known book, The Mind of the Child, became an influential work in the emerging field of developmental psychology.
His writing matters today because it shows an important shift in science: instead of relying on guesswork about childhood, he argued for patient observation and evidence. That practical, curious approach helped lay groundwork for later research in psychology, education, and language development.