On December 1, 1887 the first story about the fictional but historically famous British sleuth Sherlock Holmes was published. The story was “A Study in Scarlet” and first appeared in “Beeton’s Christmas Annual” capturing front page space. The work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is well known in popular fiction, television and cinema. But the man behind the man is a little less familiar.

Born May 22, 1859, Doyle was still in his 20s when he created the character of Sherlock Holmes. It wasn’t an easy upbringing for Doyle and his family and his experience colored the man he was to be. Born into a Scottish family to a story telling mother and alcoholic father, Doyle was sent to England for his schooling. Being Scottish, he was teased by his English classmates and had a hard time adjusting. He did discover however that he had inherited his mother talents for story telling and writing.

Doyle left school at 17 bolstered rather than beaten down by his upbringing and circumstances. Despite coming from a family of well known artists, Doyle chose medicine as his career path. Perhaps this is where the character of Dr. Watson came into being. Doyle chose to be the foil to his own imagination rather than the central character of his books.

The character of Holmes actually came from a college professor Doyle met during his schooling. A master of logical deduction and puzzle solving, the professor inspired Doyle and influenced his writing.

As a medical student, Doyle was offered a position as a ship’s doctor and had the opportunity to travel to the Arctic. Throughout his travels and during his studies, Doyle was publishing short stories to make a little extra money. Although he did work as a doctor both off and on board ship, Doyle encountered many circumstances that left him poor and dissatisfied.

Eventually, Doyle set up his own practice in Plymouth, England and worked hard as a doctor during the day and as an author at night. He spent a year perfecting and drafting “A Study in Scarlet”. Despite trying out other characters and story lines after this, it was the Sherlock Holmes mysteries that changed Doyle’s life and catapulted him toward literary fame.

Doyle wrote, married, had children, traveled and wrote some more. He was a dedicated and passionate author. In 1893, Doyle killed off the Holmes character disappointing thousands of fans but Doyle had other things on his mind. His father died, his wife became fatally ill and he sank into depression. Doyle’s later life was filled with paranormal investigation, trips to America, service in Africa during the Boer war, a new marriage, more children and of course, writing stories, plays and poetry to solidify his place as one of Britain’s most celebrated Victorian writers. He passed away in 1930.

Many writers yearn for the talent and luck of a man like Arthur Conan Doyle. Few are aware of the colorful and sometimes dark life he had to lead in order to color his pen just so. Still, because of him we have Holmes and Watson and remain historically grateful.

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