Rudolf Virchow's scientific legacy to mankind is invaluable. His holistic view of disease allowed him to develop detailed experimental models based on the precepts of cell biology, which is why he is considered the forerunner of modern pathology. Many of his observations were transferred to the clinical setting and are still valid today in different areas of internal medicine. This biographical sketch highlights his main contributions to modern medical practice on the basis of his profound social sensitivity, including the founding of the first German anthropological society.