Arthur Conan Doyle

Date of Birth: May 22, 1859

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: July 7, 1930

Biography

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician, best known for creating the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Doyle initially pursued a career in medicine, earning his degree from the University of Edinburgh Medical School. While practicing as a doctor, he began writing stories, eventually gaining fame with “A Study in Scarlet,” the first novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, in 1887. Doyle’s works encompass a wide range of genres, including historical novels, science fiction, and adventure stories. Despite his success with Holmes, Doyle grew tired of the character and even killed him off in “The Final Problem,” only to resurrect him due to public demand. Beyond literature, Doyle was a staunch advocate of spiritualism, even writing extensively on the subject. He was knighted in 1902 for his contributions to literature and his work during the Boer War.

5 Interesting Facts about Arthur Conan Doyle

1. Arthur Conan Doyle was a trained ophthalmologist and had a practice in London.

2. He was a keen sportsman, participating in cricket, football, and golf.

3. Doyle once ran for Parliament as a Liberal Unionist but was not elected.

4. He played a significant role in the campaign to clear the name of George Edalji, a man wrongly convicted of mutilating animals.

5. Doyle was a fervent advocate of spiritualism and believed in fairies, famously supporting the Cottingley Fairies hoax.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Arthur Conan Doyle

1. “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

2. “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.”

3. “Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.”

4. “The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”

5. “A man always finds it hard to realize that he may have finally lost a woman’s love, however badly he may have treated her.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Arthur Conan Doyle’s net worth was estimated to be around £300,000, a substantial amount at the time, equivalent to several million dollars today.

Children

Arthur Conan Doyle had five children. With his first wife, Louisa Hawkins, he had two children: Mary Louise and Arthur Alleyne Kingsley (known as Kingsley). With his second wife, Jean Leckie, he had three children: Denis Percy Stewart, Adrian Malcolm, and Jean Lena Annette.