THE HISTORY OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
begins with Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle. Born May 22, 1859
in Edinburgh Scotland (the same year that Charles Darwin published
On the Origin of Species), Arthur was one of ten children.
His early education was through Jesuit schools before he entered the
University of Edingburg and pursued a medical degree. It was here
that he encountered Dr. Joseph Bell, a physician who astounded
audiences with his sharp wit and powers of deduction when observing
patients.
In 1882 after graduation, Doyle joined a medical practice in Plymouth
but this relationship soon went sour and he left for Southsea. There
he built a thriving practice, and between responsibilities, he began
writing. The character of Sherlock Holmes, a brilliant detective,
was born during this period borrowing from memories of Dr. Joseph
Bell. Holmes first adventure was A Study in Scarlet,
which Doyle sold for 25 pounds to Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887.
It was later sold as a book in 1888.
In 1891, The Strand Magazine began and
Doyle began contributing his Sherlock Holmes stories to it, all of
which became very successful. However, despite their success, Doyle
felt unfulfilled. He fancied that he should be writing books which
would provide him a "lasting name in English literature,"
and toyed with the idea "of slaying Holmes . . . and winding
him up for good and all. He takes my mind from better things."
In 1893 he produced 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes' to the horror
of fans worldwide, in which Holmes died pitted against the archvillain
Professor Moriarty.
In 1902 Doyle was awarded a knighthood largely
for writings he had produced in support of British policies during
the Boer War. Doyle continued to write for the remainder of his life
contributing approximately 60 stories to the world in addition
to numerous factual pieces including an autobiography Memoirs and
Adventures in 1924.
Ironically, after the death of his son in World War 1, Doyle in stark
contrast to the ultralogical Sherlock Holmes he had created, became
a staunch supporter of spiritualism, writing on the subject
and traveling widely to speak upon it. He died on July 7th 1930.
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Dr.
Arthur Doyle's Grave site
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