Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle

Born 22 May 1859 in Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, now hailed as "World City of Literature". Medical degree from the University of Edinburgh, where he studied under Joseph Bell. His thesis on the effects of syphilis is available online.

Served as doctor on an Arctic whaler (photo). ACD lived in Southsea, Birmingham and elsewhere, and practised as a doctor briefly.
First short story published 1879 (not about Sherlock Holmes). The story "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" was a startling success. His first novel, A Study in Scarlet, appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual. Lived for a time in Surrey, later at Crowborough, Sussex.

Author of more than 50 books, including historical novels (most famous The White Company -- a review), science fiction and other novels of Professor Challenger), domestic comedy, seafaring adventure, the comic adventures of Brigadier Gerard, the supernatural, poetry, military history, many other subjects. Bibliography from the Arthur Conan Doyle Society. He wrote the comic play 'Jane Annie' jointly with James Barrie, creator of Peter Pan.

In 1893, ACD "killed" Sherlock Holmes by reporting his apparent death in "The Final Problem", last story of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. He wanted to devote time and attention to his "more serious" writings. Holmes was briefly brought back in The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1901, then revived in "The Empty House", 1903, and subsequent tales.

Knighted ("Sir Arthur") 1902 for his work in Boer War propaganda (particularly the pamphlet The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct) — and, some said, because of the publication of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Constant writer of letters to the editor and crusader for social reforms. Of special interest: criminal justice (he took a personal role in the George Edalji and Oscar Slater cases), military strategy (though he never served in the armed forces), public health, sports (cricket, boxing, Olympics), divorce law reform, Belgian exploitation of the Congo, the Piltdown hoax. Twice ran unsuccessfully for Parliament. Visited Canada in 1914, when Lady Conan Doyle kept a diary that can be viewed online through technology from the Toronto Reference Library. (ACD also made Canadian visits in 1894, 1922, and 1923.)

He died 7 July 1930.

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